Possible Award of a V.C. to British Private

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Karmen,

First of all, the Victoria Cross is the world's most prestigious valour award. Go here:

http://www.victoriacross.net/default.asp

... and be prepared to spend DAYS surfing the site. It's truly sobering.

Now, as Marko said, 'squaddie' is simply a moniker for a member of a rifle section (in the U.S. a rifle squad, although we don't use the term), and in British parliance, is interchangeable with the term 'Tom' - as in an officer talking about his Toms (which evolved from the term 'Tommy', or 'Tommie'). They are the salt of the earth, and the backbone of the British Army.