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admin · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 4:36 pm Post subject: Former RMSoM PWI... Hoofing dit!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/a...t-tell-mum-I-dont-want-worry.html

He was a Platoon Weapons Instructor in Portsmouth at the School of Music a few years back, a top bloke, good instructor and now a bit of a hero!

Hero Marine rugby-tackles suicide bomber and says 'Don't tell mum, I don't want her to worry'

By Jaya Narain
Last updated at 1:41 AM on 18th April 2009

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Hero soldier Noel Connolly on his wedding day.

Brave: Sgt Connolly, pictured on his wedding day

It was an act of remarkable bravery by a Royal Marine which saved the lives of 30 comrades serving alongside him in Afghanistan.

Sergeant Noel Connolly rugby-tackled a suicide bomber pushing a motorbike packed with more than 150lb of deadly explosives.

But the 41-year-old followed this courage with an astonishing display of modesty.

He played down his heroics so much that he did not even tell his family. Then, when the story emerged, he begged his sister not to tell their 81-year-old mother, Mary.

The Taliban fanatic had been pushing the bike towards Sgt Connolly's Army base when the Marine ordered him to stop and saw a telltale toggle switch attached to the handlebars.

Sgt Connolly dived on the bomber, grabbed him by the shirt and hauled him from the bike.

But the hero only told his sister Breda Connolly when she wrote to ask if the exploits of an unnamed soldier had anything to do with him. He admitted: 'Yes - but don't tell Mum.'

His letter said: 'Let's just say the sergeant concerned was Mancunian, about 5ft 7in, with grey hair and supports Man City. You can do the maths, as the Yanks would say.'

His sister, of Fallowfield, Manchester, said: 'He doesn't talk about what happens when he's away. Our mum is a devout Catholic and has been praying every day since he has been away.

'Noel wrote telling her everything was quiet and he wasn't in the danger zone because he didn't want to worry her.'

Sgt Connolly and the 600 other Royal Marines of Plymouth-based 42 Commando returned home to Britain on Thursday from their six-month tour.

His wife Lorraine, a Navy servicewoman, and two teenage daughters were at Exeter airbase to welcome him back.

The youngest of seven children, he joined the Marines 22 years ago and has served in danger zones around the world.

Sgt Connolly's unit was occupying an abandoned school in Kandahar province when they were warned of an impending attack last November.

'I'm not brave. Someone had to stop him,' he insisted. 'I was near the school when I caught a fleeting glimpse of a motorbike. I told all my lads to expect a bomber.

'The motorcyclist looked lost. He turned the bike around up the track and came back.

'I grabbed two lads and went to intercept him. I had no idea if he was the bomber. The only way of finding out was to challenge him.'

The sergeant, also from Fallowfield, stepped into the road and, in Pashtu, ordered the man to stop.

'He stalled the bike and started pushing it away from us. He stopped, straddled it and turned to face us,' he said. 'As I got to within ten metres, there was a loud crack from halfway down the bike.

'That's when I saw a small toggle switch had been fitted to his handlebars. As soon as he went for the toggle again I rushed him. I grabbed him by the front of his shirt and hauled him off.' The motorbike's frame was found to contain 154lb of explosive. The bomber was handed to police and later jailed for 18 years.

Sgt Connolly did not want his mother to know to save her from worry.

His sister added: 'It was always understood we wouldn't talk with Mum about what he was doing. Now she's learned about it but is just very relieved.

'Noel is a true Mancunian. We are so proud of him. He is a Royal Marine through and through, and is dedicated to the job.'

Their mother said: 'I'm just happy that he is home safe. I thank God that nothing happened to him.'

Any decision on a commendation or medal will be taken by commanding officers when they review his action in due course.
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Pompey Rich · Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 11:51 pm Post subject:

The guy deseves a VC for that. How many lives did he save?
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Play up Pumpy...

RAB · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 7:50 am Post subject:

Well done to him. A very brave challenge executed in true Man City manner. I wonder how many head-butts he rained down on the terrorist scum....

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'Never moon a werewolf'.

sticky blue · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 8:01 am Post subject:

Well Done That Man! - I hope the powers that be recognise his actions and make a suitable award

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admin · Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 12:19 pm Post subject:

How funny would it have been, knowing Noel, if he'd said "I only gave chase cos the bloke was wearing a Man Utd shirt and I wanted to give him a good slapping!" Wahhhhhhhhhh
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