Lance Corporal Croucher faced certain death when he threw himself over an exploding grenade in order to protect his comrades.

Croucher, a 24-year-old Marine reservist from Birmingham, was deployed on a reconnaissance mission in Southern Afghanistan in February 2008. His patrol was near their base in Sangin, Helmand province when he stepped on a trip line that pulled the pin from a booby trap grenade. Knowing that the grenade was about to detonate and armed with the knowledge that a grenade like that has a killing circumference of roughly five metres, Croucher dropped to the ground and lay on his back over it. The explosion flung him into the air, and blew his backpack into small pieces but amazingly, Croucher walked away with just a nosebleed and a headache. The three men with him suffered minor cuts and bruises. Croucher put his own life on the line in order to save the lives of others. Croucher was honoured with a George Cross in October 2008.

We have been here for Croucher since the day he joined up and we will be for the rest of his life. For over 100 years we have supported the Armed Forces and their families with affordable accommodation and welfare breaks. We are the Victory Services Club; the all ranks, tri-service, family friendly London based Club.

We are a charity that offers membership to the military community for the rest of their lives, free membership to those who currently serve and rooms in the heart of London's West End.