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CFIVA News

TWENTY YEARS FOR VETERAN

Sunday, April 11, 2004


Sub-Officer Vatcher agrees to pose for a photo whilst holding a car washing day to raise money for charity
Association member and British firefighter Sean Vatcher is rarely out of the pages of our magazine regarding his achievements and the next issue will be no exception. On 10th April, Sean received the Fire Brigade Long Service Medal from his employers, on behalf of HM Queeen Elizabeth. He has completed twenty years of faithful and exemplary service to his local community, joining the Fire Service in 1984 at the tender age of eighteen. Secretary of the Croatian Forces International Volunteers Association Daniel Kington was privileged to attend a special reception where Sean was presented with his medal ribbons and a certificate of gratitude from his unit commander, who stated that no retained fire fighter in the history of the County's Fire & Rescue Service had made anywhere near the level of personal commitment and dedication to duty as Sub-officer Vatcher. Sean's professional accomplishment is unmatched by anyone else, in addition to the incredible amount of humanitarian work he performs in Croatia, Bosnia and Kosova, his photographic work and founding the Croatian Forces Living History Group (see our links page for his excellent website).

Sean had an eventful war. From 1991 he served with the National Defence during Croatia's Homeland War and later served an important role with the HVO in Bosnia-Hercegovina as an embedded cameraman. He saw a great deal of action, collected evidence of war crimes for the International Criminal Tribunal at the Hague, was wounded in action, was captured and held in one of the notorious Serb death camps and suffered deep personal tragedy. Both during and after the wars his humanitarian work continued unabated and on many occasions he proved instrumental in ensuring the success of humanitarian operations to the region, for which, it is sad to report, others took the credit. He is the holder of the Croatian War Medal (Spomenica Domovinskog rata) and the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal. Unfortunately, Sean has yet to be rewared by either his own or any other government for his outstanding work in the cause of humanity.

On behalf of the members of CFIVA, we heartily congratulate Sean on his very well deserved award and wish him well for whatever he decides to do in the future.

CFIVA

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