They say “Greater Love hath no one that lays their life down for their friend”.
This is true. But as my team and I waited to help you I witnessed another love: the love of your friends working so hard to stop you making that sacrifice. https://twitter.com/keysersosse/status/1282555520344301569

I remember like it was yesterday. The cacophony of gunfire, the ricochets howling and whistling off into the sky. The stones getting plucked up into the air by the impact of bullets. The thuds, crumps, shouts and yet more gunfire.

I was safe behind walls of Hesco and beyond that was what sounded like Hell. And yet, and yet, I saw Marine after Marine go out into that Hell to help bring you back into that safety so that we could try and help you fight what was to be your last fight.

One image that is seared into me is of a Marine, laden with GPMG and belts of link slung over around his shoulders run as hard and fast as he could out through that back gate that he could lay down covering fire for you.

The blood and sweat soaked faces that ran in to give the updated and conflicting MIST reports.
The medics and volunteers that waited nervously in our sickbay for you and the other casualty. The fear we felt for you as the battle raged on.

Everyone around you dug out so much for you. People were not doing their “duty” they were desperately trying to save you.
Your Troop Sergeant with you and talking reassuringly in your ear as we worked. The fear of a worried parent etched deep into his face.

The FACs working the radios to bring in the PEDRO to transport you to safety- eyes searching the skies and ears straining for the distinctive sound muddled in the rest of the noise.

Your friends and colleagues waiting a horrible wait outside the sickbay. Nothing that they could do but hope and pray. And pray they did.

Then we had to let you go- let you go up into the sky with brothers-in-arms from a different Unit and a different nation. So as the helicopters faded off into the dusty blue-grey sky we were left again in the quiet. To pray and pray.

I’m desperately sorry Matt. I’m sorry that we did not prevail.
You were surrounded by love as you died. You will be remembered forever.

A quarter of a century ago as a @RHSSuffolk chorister I used to struggle to hold it together and hold the notes as the bugle joined in with this beautiful anthem. Today I struggle to listen to it.
RIP Matt.