NZer in British Army earns high honour

A New Zealander serving in the British Army has been awarded one of the highest honours for bravery.

Lance Corporal James Lee McKie saved two other British soldiers from certain death in March, when he heroically scooped up and threw a grenade back at Teleban soldiers during a firefight in Afghanistan.

In honour of this feat, the British Army today awarded McKie with a Gallantry Cross, the second highest medal British soldiers can receive.

At the awards ceremony McKie said it was his training in the New Zealand army that has served him so well in the British military.

"I'm a good representative for the New Zealand army training I guess. It just goes to show that the training I had in New Zealand served me well even over there," told One News.

- NZ Herald staff