by Jenni Horn

A former Medway schoolboy has been presented with one of the highest military decorations.

Two days before the country remembered its fallen, Bombardier Mark Carpenter was awarded the Military Cross by The Queen at Buckingham Palace on Friday.

He had saved the life of a fellow soldier when they came under attack on patrol in Afghanistan.

Mark, who grew up in Walderslade, faced a shower of bullets to drag his sergeant to safety when he was shot in the neck.

He told his mum Sue, of Repton Way, Walderslade: “I was just doing my job”.

The award comes almost three years after Mark’s step-brother Cpt Dan Read was killed in action.

Read the full story in today's Medway Messenger