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Auction: 20002 - Orders, Decorations, Medals & Space Exploration
Lot: 646

The campaign pair awarded to Lance Corporal C. Roberts, Burma Company, 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment, who wrote a notable account of his time in Afghanistan

He rendered vital aid to his comrade Corporal Andy Reid, who detonated an IED which cost three of his limbs; it was the work of Roberts who ensured he was tended and evacuated in quick time

Operational Service Medal 2000, for Afghanistan, 1 clasp, Afghanistan (LCpl C A Roberts Yorks 25219926); N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, ISAF, the first mounted court-style as worn, pin removed, nearly extremely fine (2)

C. A. Roberts served with 11 Platoon, Burma Company, 3rd Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment in Afghanistan during Operation Herrick 10, July-November 2009. He wrote his 'Afghanistan War Book' (8pp) which gives a good insight to their service at Forward Operating Base Nolay. Immediately into action, they did their first patrol the very morning after having arrived, being greeted with an IED just 100m from the FOB. Next facing a three-day patrol in Operating Box Robyn, they carried packs of 100lbs and saw numerous contacts. Moving out of the area, Fusilier James 'lost his right arm and half his face' before Fusilier Bush was sent forward to clear a route in order to assist Sergeant Valentine. Bush went forward some 15m before 'he stepped on an IED and disappeared behind a cloud of dust sending his right leg whizzing past me and our section and then the screams started. I calmed the section down and told everyone to keep eyes out for movement in the crops to our left in case it was a command wire.'

The two casualties were flown back to Bastion and then it was up to Roberts to lead the survivors back to base. They were forced to wade, chest deep in water, through ditches to base. They got back safely to hear the sad news that Valentine hadn't survived the flight and that Bush was a triple amputee on life support. His family made the difficult call to switch off his life support in Selley Oak Hospital 10 days later.

Their final patrol from FOB Nolay was meant to be a simple one lasting two hours, but it was detailed to go into an area uncovered by sight from the FOB. Earlier reports suggested a farmer was seen passing through the fields with 20 sheep: just seven made it through. Roberts takes up the story:

'Headed into the dead ground when there was a massive explosion and then the screams of pain and fear. My heart sank and I immediately looked at the man in front knowing it was either Pte. Hastie or Cpl. Reid so with my stretcher in my day sack I headed to the front of the call sign where the explosion was and saw LCpl Walker helping and Cpl. Reid who was still conscious and propped up in the blast hole with tourniquets round both legs. His left leg was completely blown away from him and his right leg was held onto his trouser tie and his right arm and left hand looked in a bad way aswell and Pte. Hastie has suffered frag wounds to his left leg. I gave Cpl. Reid my morphine and we all got him onto my stretcher. I was amazed at the braveness of him and all the route of the cas evac he was asking for his girlfriend, I told him he would be alright and try [to] keep him conscious although sometimes it looked like he was drifting in and out.'

Reid was treated back in England and was beside Roberts when they both were awarded their Operational Service Medal from the hands of the Duke of Wellington in 2012; sold together with named box of issue for the OSM, his 'Afghanistan War Book', together with a copy of the Burma Company Group Op Herrick 10 Warbook, which includes the account of 19 soldiers and letters of encouragement from Lt Wales (The Duke of Sussex), who had previously served with the unit, David Cameron and Sir Alex Ferguson besides photographs of the recipient.

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Sold for
£420

Starting price
£170