THE selfless bravery shown by two young men in today’s Oxford Mail is humbling to say the least.

Lance Corporal David Radband, just 24, led his men through a barrage of bullets to clear Taliban fighters from their positions.

And Staff Sergeant Gareth Wood has been rightly awarded the Military Cross for defusing roadside bombs – with two broken fingers.

The grim death toll from operations in Afghanistan is a reminder of how much danger these men knowingly put themselves in – yet they continue to do so, not just because they feel it to be right, but because it is simply their job.

The danger posed by roadside bombs is impossible to comprehend – but for Staff Sergeant Wood it is all in a day’s work.

Britain has seen a swelling of pride for its armed forces as the conflict deepens and this is no clearer than in Bampton, once dubbed ‘the most loyal village in Oxfordshire’. Their residents are a beacon for the county and the UK.

These two soldiers’ calm, brave and professional attitude saves lives on the battlefield – and serves as an inspiration to us all.