Olaf Schmid

This article is about the British Army bomb disposal expert. For the German glider Aerobatic pilot, see Olaf Schmidt. For the ski jumper, see Olaf Schmidt (ski jumper).

Olaf Schmid
Nickname(s)	"Oz"
Born	(1979-06-11)11 June 1979 Truro, Cornwall
Died	Sangin, Helmand Province, Afghanistan
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1996 – 2009 †
Rank	Staff Sergeant
Service number	25045811
Unit	11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment RLC
Battles/wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	George Cross
Relations	Christina Schmid (wife)

George Cross and its ribbon bar

Staff Sergeant Olaf Sean George Schmid GC (11 June 1979 – 31 October 2009) was a British Army bomb disposal expert (Ammunition Technician) who was killed in action in the Afghanistan conflict. Schmid was posthumously awarded the George Cross after he made safe 70 devices before his death in October 2009. The citation was presented to Schmid's widow, Christina Schmid, by the Chief of the Defence Staff Sir Jock Stirrup on 18 March 2010 in a ceremony in the City of London. The announcement of the award of the GC to Staff Sergeant Kim Hughes was made at the same time.

Early life

Schmid was born on 11 June 1979 in Truro, Cornwall, to a German mother, Barbara, and a Swiss father, Hans-Joerg Schmid, he was brother to Torben and half brother to Gregory. He was educated at Polwhele House School and Penair School in Truro, and was a choir boy in Truro Cathedral Choir, ultimately becoming head chorister. He first joined the army in 1996, enlisting in the Royal Logistic Corps and shortly afterwards he applied to train as a bomb disposal specialist. Schmid lived in Winchester, Hampshire, with his wife Christina and his stepson Laird.

Army career

Schmid served in Northern Ireland, Yugoslavia and Kosovo before being sent to Afghanistan in June 2009. He arrived during Operation Panther's Claw in Helmand Province. On 31 October 2009 Schmid was defusing a device in Sangin, Helmand Province when the device exploded, killing Schmid instantly.

Death

After Schmid's death was announced several people left tributes to his courage. Schmid's commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Thomson, commanding 2nd Rifles Battle Group, said: "Staff-Sergeant Oz Schmid was simply the bravest and most courageous man I have ever met. Under relentless IED and small arms attacks he stood taller than the tallest." A funeral and memorial service was held at Truro Cathedral on 24 November 2009. On 21 September 2010, his widow, Christina Schmid, was a contributor in a programme in BBC Radio 4's Soul Music series about Gabriel Fauré's Requiem with conductor David Willcocks. The Requiem was performed at the memorial service for Schmid.

George Cross

On 18 March 2010, Sir Jock Stirrup, the Chief of the Defence Staff announced that Schmid would be posthumously awarded the George Cross, and presented a framed copy of the citation to Schmid's widow during a ceremony at the headquarters of the Honourable Artillery Company in the City of London. The award was gazetted on 19 March 2010. Schmid's widow, Christina, was presented with the medal in a private ceremony at Buckingham Palace on 2 June 2010. She attended the ceremony with her son Laird and her parents.