Ayr Army doctor Awarded Military Cross

Aug 8 2008 by Stuart Wilson

AN Army doctor was blown up in battle – but then rescued his mates as the Taliban went for the kill.

Now Major Douglas Reid has been awarded the Military Cross for his bravery while serving in the Middle East.

The former Belmont Academy pupil received the top honour for his heroic service in Afghanistan.

Modest Major Reid, who describes himself as a ‘GP’, has completed two six-month tours in Afghanistan with the Royal Army Medical Corps.

His award from military top brass at Windsor comes after a spate of impressive acts in the heat of battle.

Proud dad Ian revealed: “He still describes himself as a GP despite all that he’s achieved. He’s not one for any attention.

“His commanding officer commented that he couldn’t remember the last time a doctor had been awarded the Military Cross, so it’s a very big thing.

“We’re immensely proud of him.”

In one incident for which Major Reid was honoured, his armoured vehicle was blown up, causing him to suffer from severe shock.

But despite the threat of further Taliban attacks, he worked for several hours to rescue and treat the wounded.

And in another operation for which he won praise, Major Reid, 31, was landed by helicopter to treat a wounded Gurkha soldier while fighting raged around him.

He then ran under fire across open ground to a platoon of Australian troops to try and save a mortally wounded soldier.

Major Reid, who was born and bred in Ayr, is the eldest of three triplets, along with Simon and Jocelyn, and attended the town’s Army Cadet Force in Chalmers Road as a teenager.

He then went on to gain his medical qualifications at university in Dundee.

Douglas was also a leading player in the Hearts and Minds project, bringing aid to Afghanis by visiting villages to offer treatment with his Gurkha Battle Group.

Mum Trudy added: “I’m absolutely delighted for him and especially proud to discover that his Gurkha soldiers called him ‘Dr Morale’.”

Douglas is now awaiting his invitation from Buckingham Palace to receive the award.