King Charles III has this week awarded a Commendation for Bravery – an acknowledgement more usually given to those who have risked their lives in the military - to two men who saved a situtation at a Spar in Dorset in 2016 from escalating badly.
The list of award winners, announced yesterday (6 October), included Grant McGarry and Nigel Dunmore, who intervened in an armed robbery in Wool on 7 October 2016 at the Spar on the town’s High Street.
The two men were with friends at a pub when they both voluntarily responded to urgent calls for help from the nearby shop. After hearing an armed robbery was in progress, they decided to intervene, despite the risks posed to themselves.
Three masked men, armed with weapons, had already forced members of staff into an office and were attempting to run away with money they had stolen.
Upon witnessing the situation, McGarry and Dunmore ran to assist and confronted the offenders, even managing to detain one briefly before he also broke free. Dunmore was even struck by a crowbar during their pursuit of the offenders, who ultimately managed escape in a getaway vehicle.
Despite facing significant personal danger, including being assaulted during the confrontation, McGarry and Dunmore “acted with determination to protect others and prevent the crime. Their swift and selfless actions demonstrated remarkable bravery in the face of serious threat,” a release confirmed.
Speaking at the time of the attack in 2016, then Prime Minister Theresa May, said: “I commend the bravery and courage shown by those two individuals who stepped into that situation to ensure that it wasn’t as bad as it might have been.
“That’s incredible bravery - many members of the public would not have been willing to step forward in that way.”
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