News
June 27th 2022
Commendation for life-saving Lincolnshire Army Cadet
Cadet Staff Sergeant William Craft received his Praiseworthy Action Commendation from Colonel Ian Sackree, Commandant of Lincolnshire ACF.
On 22nd February 2022, Cadet Staff Sergeant William Craft (17) of Bourne Detachment, Lincolnshire Army Cadet Force (ACF), was making his way home when he encountered a serious road traffic collision on the A15 involving a motorcyclist.
The motorcyclist had been thrown from his bike which then caught fire, and was unconscious and not breathing. Without hesitation, William administered first aid to the motorcyclist, having completed Senior Cadet first aid training with Lincolnshire Army Cadet Force the weekend before.
William managed to restore the casualty’s breathing and conducted primary and secondary surveys whilst waiting for the emergency services to arrive on the scene. The casualty was taken to Peterborough City Hospital, but has since made a full recovery, and is once again back on the road on his motorcycle.
Inspector Rachel Blackwell, Operational Policing Inspector for Stamford, Bourne and The Deepings, wrote to William in March to thank him for his efforts. Inspector Blackwell praised William’s “quick thinking [and] calm composure”.
From L-R: Lieutenant Lindsay Gray (Bourne Detachment Commander), Cadet Staff Sergeant William Craft & Colonel Ian Sackree (County Commandant).
She wrote: “I have to offer you my sincere thanks and appreciation for your effort, and want you to know that your assistance was exceptional in that not everyone would have had the confidence to help out as you did – but above all, your role was important in caring for the man until the emergency medical responders arrived at the scene.”
“Embodying the values and standards of the Army Cadet Force.” – Lieutenant Lindsay Gray
Now, the Army Cadet Charitable Trust have presented William with a Praiseworthy Action Commendation to recognise his outstanding efforts, which was presented by Colonel Ian Sackree, Commandant of Lincolnshire Army Cadet Force.
Lieutenant Lindsay Gray, Detachment Commander at Bourne, commented: “I cannot overstate how incredibly proud we are of William. William showed immense courage in administering emergency first aid and his actions saved the life of another.
“William attributes his achievement to the Army Cadet Force and the training we deliver for giving him the confidence to be able to attend the scene and undertake the vitally important action he did. But William fully deserves to be recognised for his strength of character and selfless commitment for what he did that night, and embodying the values and standards of the Army Cadet Force.”
First Aid is a key skill that you can learn as a Cadet. Interested? Find out more.
