Military Cross awarded to Tyneside medic Sarah Bushbye

Sep 24 2010 by Sarah Scott, The Journal

A MODEST army medic from Tyneside is to be awarded the Military Cross after braving enemy fire in a bid to save the lives of her comrades.

Lance Corporal Sarah Bushbye, from Killingworth in North Tyneside, will be commended for her outstanding bravery after braving bullets from insurgents in Afghanistan who attacked a patrol in the Sangin district of Helmand province.

Her proud mother Maureen Bushbye of Camperdown, North Tyneside, last night told of her delight as her 25-year-old daughter became one of the youngest people to be awarded the honour.

“I am very, very proud of her,” Maureen said. “She was not expecting anything at all.

“She was just out there doing her job. We are just over the moon.”

Newly-wed Sarah was given the good news while she was on holiday in Crete with her husband Danny. Her parents have had to keep the news secret since Monday.

“I have been telling everyone in work today,” Maureen told The Journal.

“She is so modest about it and has been really low key about the whole thing.

“She is fantastic and we had some champagne on Tuesday night to celebrate,” Maureen added. Lance Corporal Bushbye, now an acting corporal with 3 Medical Regiment, was on duty in December 2009 attached to the 3 Rifles Battle Group when her checkpoint was attacked by two suicide bombers.

Ignoring the risks of further bombs and incoming fire, she dashed across 500 yards of open ground to reach four Afghans and two British soldiers injured in the attack.