A soldier from the King’s Troop who broke her neck as she put her life in danger to halt a gun carriage and team of runaway horses has been given a commendation for bravery. Lance Bombardier Grace Gostelow “disregarded her own safety and put herself in harm’s way” during the freak incident in Charlton Park, London, two years ago.
The mounted gunner was riding accompanied by two other soldiers, each controlling a pair, as they undertook routine practice for the musical drive in an isolated area of the park. One horse bucked, unsettling the others who unseated their riders leaving only LBdr Gostelow in charge of the runaway carriage.
Refusing the take advantage of the opportunity to throw herself clear of the team and the tonne-and-a-half 1904 gun, she put herself at risk as she fought to regain control.
A skilled horsewoman who hunts and competes in military races — as well as ride-judging Retraining of Racehorses classes and Irish draughts — LBdr Gostelow, tried to steer the team to the edge of the training grounds but they were only brought to a halt when the leaders went either side of a tree. The horses were uninjured in the collision, but the 30-year-old broke her neck and has had to undergo extensive rehabilitation.
