‘I was on the shoulders of giants’

says LANCE-SERGEANT MARKUS STRYDOM

The military has always been in Markus’ blood – his father, Lieutenant-Colonel Leon Strydom, served 34 years in the South African National Defence Force. Markus was 24 when he came to the UK to work in 2004. The plan was that four of his friends would join him and together they would travel around Europe. ‘ They never turned up!’ Markus laughs.

So, in 2005, when he found himself outside an Army recruitment office in Northampton, he called his dad for advice. ‘Before I knew it, I was in Catterick, North Yorkshire, training to become a Grenadier Guard in the British Army,’ he says. ‘It was the first time I’d even seen snow!’

He was posted around the UK and champions his fellow soldiers. ‘The friendships were unbelievable, they are my brothers, my family,’ Markus says. ‘These are the people you call in the middle of the night, the people you know better than their own wives do!’

In 2009, after meeting his wife, Claire, Markus did a six-month tour in Afghanistan. It was during his second deployment in June 2012 that along with his squad – the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards

– Markus came under fire. He was shot once in the stomach and once in the side and, as he lay injured, the enemy threw a hand grenade in his direction.

‘I just thought, “This day can’t get much worse”, and waited for the bang,’ he says.

Markus’ friend Lance Corporal James Ashworth, was killed in the conflict. Seriously injured himself, Markus fell in and out of consciousness while his men dragged him to safety and back to base.

From there, he was flown to Camp Bastion, in Helmand Province, where he underwent emergency surgery. It was from his hospital bed he telephoned Claire. ‘I got her voicemail, so I asked about her, the house, our pets … then I said, “by the way, I’ve been shot. I love you, speak soon…”’ Markus doesn’t remember making that call.

With expert medical care, the soldier was headed for home –but the air pressure on the flight caused Markus’ bowel to perforate, and the plane had to divert to Cyprus, where he had 10cm of small intestine and stomach muscles removed. He endured five operations in 10 days and the Army flew Claire out to be with him.

‘It was a relief to see her,’ he says. As he recovered, Markus was brought back to the UK and, 21 days after being shot, he walked out of hospital.

But there was a long road to recovery ahead, one that the charity the Not Forgotten Association (NFA), helped him with. ‘They have been invaluable to me and Claire,’ Markus says. ‘Our relationship was changed massively.’

The soldier needed help with basic tasks and struggled with his injuries. But the NFA was there to support him and Claire, and set him challenges

– such as climbing mountains with other injured vets – to encourage his recovery.

‘They gave me my determination back,’ he says.

Medically discharged from the Army in September 2014, Markus was awarded the Military Cross for bravery.

Despite finding civilian life tough, Markus works in the private sector, while supporting and raising funds for the NFA. ‘They are like my battle buddy – we look out for each other,’ he says. And of his brothers in arms? ‘The saying “Standing on the shoulders of giants” springs to mind.’

Lance- Sergeant Markus Strydom MC, you truly are a hero.