Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 624

Six: Staff Sergeant S. P. Byrne, Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire, who served attached to the 1st Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment during the Gulf War and was involved in a 'Blue-on-Blue' incident that required him having to pull his Officer clear of the burning Warrior, saving his life

General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24229683 Cpl S P Byrne PWO); Gulf 1990-91, 1 clasp, 16 Jan to 28 Feb 1991 (24229683 WO2 S P Byrne PWO); U.N. Medal, on UNPROFOR riband; Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., Regular Army (24229683 SSgt S P Byrne PWO); Saudi Arabia, Liberation of Kuwait 1991; Kuwait, Liberation of Kuwait 1991, 4th Grade, mounted court-style for wear, good very fine and Gulf rare to unit (6)

Shaun Patrick Byrne was born on 18 July 1956 and enlisted in the Royal Army Pay Corps as an Apprentice Tradesman at Hull on 1 August 1972. Transferred to the Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire, he was photographed for the press during their training exercised in South Alberta and the Rockies - including an arduous 90-mile expedition down the North Saskatchewan River.

He served attached to the 1st Battalion, Staffordshire Regiment during Operation Granby in the Gulf from 24 October 1990-11 March 1991. Byrne was present in a Warrior, which had just been fitted with the new (and at that time secret) Chobham armour, on 27 February 1991 when they were fired upon by Challenger tanks of the Scots Dragoon Guards. Lieutenant Toby Tennant, Royal Green Jackets and Captain Tom Wagstaff were also present when they were mistaken for the enemy, being hit by a 120mm round from a Challenger tank. Tennant was stood at the back door and was wounded - requiring intervention from Byrne to assist in his withdrawal. In typical Cavalry style a few minutes later four Challengers drew alongside and the Second Lieutenant in command stuck his head out and cried:

'Sorry! But it wasn't my Troop Old Boy!'

During that tour he served as Intelligence Warrant Officer. Returned to his unit he was Intelligence Colour-Sergeant for the Prince of Wales's' Own tour of Bosnia in 1993, based at Vitez. This tour offered much action, with a number of his comrades becoming casualties.

Throughout his career Byrne was tipped to become Regimental Sergeant-Major or be given a Late Entry Commission, both of which eluded him. A talented rugby player and a good skier, he was discharged in May 1996; sold together with a plethora of original documentation including Certificate of Service 'Red Book', reports and appraisals covering period of his enlistment through to discharge, cerrtificates, one or two photos of his service, besides three tour journals and copied research.

Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£1,400

Starting price
£400