A DERBYSHIRE war hero who was awarded the second-highest military honour for saving the lives of Afghan soldiers after they came under fire from the Taliban has decided to sell off his medals to raise money for his family.
Alan Dennis, of Melbourne, was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) for his heroism while serving as a Colour Sergeant with the 2nd (Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters) Battalion of the Mercians.
He received the honour – second only to the Victoria Cross as a recognition for bravery – for his actions during an exchange with the Taliban in which he fought on, one-armed, after he was seriously wounded.
Now, Alan, who left the Army in September, has decided to sell off his CGC, along with his other medals, which are expected to fetch between £80,000 and £100,000.
The 40-year-old married father-of-two said: "I'm obviously reluctant in many ways to sell my medals.
"However, the amount of money that this sale could realise is potentially life-changing for myself and my family.
"As a husband and father, I have to put their welfare first and this has made the decision to auction the medals easier than it might otherwise have been."
Alan earned his CGC during an incident in Helmand Province in April, 2009.
At the time, he was second-in-command of an operational mentoring and liaison team working alongside the Afghanistan National Army (ANA) in Helmand Province.
His patrol was ambushed in a river valley by Taliban fighters and came under heavy fire from small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.
Alan found himself with three other British soldiers alongside half the ANA contingent they were mentoring and ordered them to break into a compound to establish a fire support position.
Realising that the ANA troops were about to crumble under the intense enemy fire, he ran out twice and rescued Afghan soldiers, propelling them to a safe place.
The citation for his CGC says: "On the third run, he heard a 'whoosh' and turned as a rocket propelled grenade exploded three metres in front of him.
"Although the fragmentation missed him, Dennis was hurled through the air by the blast and into a ditch.
"For a few seconds he was unconscious and, when he came to, his left arm hung uselessly by his side and he was in intense pain.
"Undeterred, Dennis fought on, moving back to the fire support position where he used a radio to send a contact report."
As the fighting continued, Alan fired his rifle with his one good arm and was the last to leave the position.
The citation continues: "Dennis's fighting spirit when severely wounded was outstanding and inspired others.
"His example and initiative brought the ANA into the battle which saved the patrol from defeat."
Following the incident, Alan was flown home to continue his recovery at a hospital in Birmingham.
At the time, he modestly said: "In a situation like that, your adrenalin keeps you going."
His medals will be auctioned by coins and medals specialists Dix Noonan Webb at its sale of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria in London on December 11.
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