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Auction: 16003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 15

SOLD BY ORDER OF THE RECIPIENT

A Good and Rare Section Commander's 2010 'Operation Herrick' Afghanistan M.C. Group of Seven to Corporal M. Ward, The Mercian Regiment, Who Was 'Fearless in Battle', Decorated For Gallantry Leading His Section On Several Occasions, During Which He 'Led Them Out Into The Withering Fire, Winning The Firefight', Later He 'Took To His Feet and Fired a Light Anti-Structures Munitions Rocket Into the Enemy Centre of Mass', On Another Occasion 'Re-Invigorated His Section Mid-Operation Following An Explosion That Fatally Wounded A Member of His Section...His Drive and Determination Was Pivotal and Kept Them Going Through Another 26 Hours of Battle', Presenting the Trophy at The 2011 FA Cup Final
a) Military Cross, E.II.R., the reverse officially inscribed 'Cpl M Ward Mercian 25176588 2011', in Royal Mint, case of issue
b) Iraq 2003-11, no clasp (25176588 Pte M Ward Cheshire)
c) General Service 1962-2007, one clasp, Northern Ireland (25176588 Pte M Ward Cheshire)
d) NATO Medal 1994, one clasp, ISAF
e) Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, one clasp, Afghanistan (Cpl M Ward Mercian 25176588), traces of repair to claw
f) Jubilee 2012, this marked 'Copy' to reverse
g) Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 2011 (Cpl M Ward Mercian 25176588), light edge nicks due to mounting, otherwise nearly extremely fine, court-mounted as worn, the ISAF Medal loose, together with the following related material:
- The recipients miniature awards, mounted court-style as worn
- Copied photographs of the recipient, portrait and field scenes
- A full set of the recipient's No.2 Service Dress, as worn at the 2011 FA Cup Final
- The recipient's battle helmet, used during the duration of the 'Operation Herrick' tour of Afghanistan
- Two identity tags
- A '1 Mercian, OP Herrick 12, Support Company' T-Shirt
- A Hallmarked presentation sterling silver hip flask, engraved 'Presented to Cpl Mark Ward, Chief Guest of The FA Cup Final, Manchester City V Stoke City, 14 May 2011', together with match programme, ticket, place setting and newspaper cuttings relating to the event
- Ten letters of congratulation of the award of the Military Cross, including from the Colonel-In-Chief, H.R.H. Prince Charles
- The 'Ongoing Appraisal' of the recipient (7)

M.C. London Gazette 25.3.2011 Corporal Mark Ward, The Mercian Regiment, 25176588
'For gallant and distinguished services in
Afghanistan during the period 1st April 2010 to 30th September 2010.'
The Citation states:
'Corporal Mark Ward, The Mercian Regiment, Afghanistan, Section Commander, Apr-Jun 10; Corporal Ward, operating from an isolated outpost in Helmand, demonstrated outstanding gallantry and leadership whilst involved in three hard-fought contacts during the mission to expand security around his Company's base. For example On 23 April 10, Ward's Section was occupying a compound to provide cover for other troops when a patrol to their front came under heavy and accurate fire, pinned down with rounds coming from numerous firing points. Pausing only to brief his men, Ward led them out into the withering fire, winning the firefight and enabling them to extract from the area. A few days later, they were ambushed by insurgents using small arms, machine guns and rocket propelled grenades forcing them to take cover. Ignoring the danger, Ward took to his feet and fired a Light Anti-Structures Munitions rocket into the enemy centre of mass, knocking the enemy off balance and reducing their effectiveness. Under his leadership, his section soon overcame the enemy, advancing and forcing them from their positions without friendly loss. Corporal Ward has consistently displayed actions which were selflessly brave as he demonstrated, conspicuous courage and inspirational leadership in the face of the enemy whilst repeatedly salvaging deteriorating situations and saving the lives of his men.'

25176588 Corporal Mark Ward, M.C., born at Stockport, 8.6.1983 and was educated at Offerton High School, Stockport. Enlisted in the Army, September 2003, joining the 1st Battalion Cheshire Regiment, April 2004, becoming the fifth generation of his family to serve in the Regiment. Ward was deployed to Iraq during Operation Telic IV, serving as 'point man', with 5 Platoon 'B' Company, in Basra City, June-October 2004. He subsequently served with the Regiment in Northern Ireland, April 2005-April 2007, being present during the Whiterock Riots, September 2005. Advanced Lance Corporal, November 2005, being posted to an Anti-Tank Platoon undertaking specialist training on 'Javelin', November 2006. Following the amalgamation of the Cheshire Regiment to form The Mercian Regiment, August 2007, Ward served in Iraq during Operation Telic XI, based at Umm Qasr Port and specialising in counter-piracy and smuggling operations, November 2007-June 2008.

Operation Herrick XII
Promoted Corporal, February 2010, Ward was deployed to Afghanistan as a Section Commander with 10 Platoon 'C' Company for Operation Herrick XII, May-October 2010, operating in the Upper Gereshk Valley, Helmand Province as a Fire Support Unit, using snipers, mounted and ground machine-guns and 'Javelin'. He was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry during the Operation. An Ongoing Appraisal provides detail into his actions in Afghanistan:
'Corporal Ward has been employed as a Fire Support Group Javelin Operator and Section Commander with C Company this reporting period. When required he has also covered as Platoon Sergeant for 10 Platoon. The reporting period has been varied and demanding for Corporal Ward and has included a deployment on Operation Herrick 12, but he has risen to every challenge presented to him and proven himself to be a first class Junior Commander.
Corporal Ward is [a] reserved character that at a casual glance could be in danger of being overlook. However, he is quietly confident and a highly capable Commander who excels under pressure and has revelled in the challenges presented whilst operating in Afghanistan. Throughout the tour his tactical appreciation was second-to-none and he was highly competent in his ability to merge information feeds in order to appreciate the situation before acting. On many occasions he was singlehandedly responsible for reducing the effectiveness of the insurgent and thwarted several attacks with well-placed use of the Javelin. As a Section Commander his performance was simple immense. Fearless in battle and exuding confidence in the task and his own ability in a manner that inspired those around him. He is also considerate towards the needs of his men, as demonstrated when he reinvigorated his section on the ground mid-operation following an explosion that fatally wounded a member of his section. On this day his drive and determination was pivotal and kept them going through another 26 hours of battle. As Platoon Sergeant he was a capable administrator and well up to standard.
Corporal War was one of the strongest performing Corporals within the C Company Group and of the 13 that I report on he is well up in the top third, an impressive feat in his first year as a Substantive Corporal.'

The action for which the report mentions was following an operation to clear Improvised Explosive Devices, in the Nahr-e-Saraj district of Helmand Province. The men were in the process of training the Afghan Army, who came under heavy fire from small arms and rocket propelled grenades from across a field. Taking cover '...we had to cross a second irrigation ditch, which was 4ft(1.2m) deep. I pushed through in front of Private Monk to get eyes on the enemy ground. I heard an explosion behind me. Jon had detonated an IED when he was climbing out of the irrigation ditch.' The detonation, 9.6.2010, caused fatal injuries to Private J.M. Monk, 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment, attached 1st Battalion The Mercian Regiment, following which the 26 hour battle ensued.
A newspaper cutting of May 2011 provides more detail into the other engagements:
'In the searing heat of last summer, he saved the lived of his comrades in battles with insurgents. In one he saw that soldiers returning to base from a foot patrol were pinned down by Taliban fire, so he led his section charging to their aid.
Days later, he led eight men on a dawn company patrol from Forward Operating Base Rahim which, lying in the feared Green Zone flanking the Helmand River, had been repeatedly hit by insurgents. Suddenly the silence was shattered by bullets and rocket-propelled grenades as fighters tried to outflank him and his men. Taliban rounds were ricocheting off branches as they leapt into a ditch. They were almost pinned down, but Cpl. Ward, from Stockport, Gtr. Manchester, calmly climbed out of the ditch into a hail of bullets and rockets and fired a Light-Anti Structures Missile at the Taliban gun nest. His bravery saved his section.'
Ward received the Military Cross from H.M. The Queen, 1.6.2011. A letter dated 11.4.2011 gives the personal congratulations of the Colonel-in-Chief of The Mercian Regiment:
'Dear Corporal Ward, Having heard the splendid news of your most thoroughly deserved Military Cross, I particularly wanted to drop you a line to say how thrilled I was to learn of this award and to send to you my HEARTFELT [underlined] congratulations. Reading your citation, it is clear that your repeated acts of selfless leadership and gallantry were absolutely crucial in preventing loss of life to your comrades, and indeed, saved the lives of others.
To say that I am full of admiration for your courage, initiative and disregard for your own safety is a serious understatement. You are, if I may say so, an outstanding credit to The Mercian Regiment, of which I have the great privilege to be Colonel-in-Chief. You are also an immense credit to this country of ours which is, without doubt, more fortunate than it realizes in having such dedicated people as yourself serving in our Armed Forces.
This brings you countless good wishes and my warmest admiration. Yours most sincerely, Charles [signed].'

Corporal Ward was invited as the Guest of Honour to present the trophy at the 2011 FA Cup Final, between Manchester City and Stoke City, 14.5.2011. Prior to the match, he was entertained at lunch by Prime Minister David Cameron and presented the trophy to the Manchester City Captain following the 1-0 result in favour of the team his family have supported for many years. Footage of the presentation can be accessed via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_LdSS345As.

Ward also completed non-Operational tours to Belize, Kenya and the Falkland Islands, leaving the Army, March 2013. He resides in Stockport and has pursued another career since.

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Sold for
£14,000