Nine: Colour Sergeant R. J. Vickery, Royal Anglian Regiment, who was Mentioned in...

Nine: Colour Sergeant R. J. Vickery, Royal Anglian Regiment, who was Mentioned in Despatches for his ‘enormous courage, fighting spirit and outstanding leadership in the most difficult of circumstances’ in Helmand, Afghanistan, during Operation Herrick XI General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24964855 Pte R J Vickery R Anglian); Operational Service Medal 2000, for Afghanistan, 1 clasp, Afghanistan, with M.I.D. oak leaf (24964855 LCpl R J Vickery R Anglian); Iraq 2003-11, no clasp (24964855 Cpl R J Vickery R Anglian); Jubilee 2002, unnamed as issued; Jubilee 2012, unnamed as issued; Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 1994, E.II.R. (24964855 Cpl R J Vickery R Anglian); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (CSgt R J Vickery R Anglian 24964855), these seven mounted court-style as worn; Jubilee 2022, unnamed as issued, in card box of issue; Brunei, Sultanate, General Service Medal, silver, gilt, and enamel, with related miniature award, in case of issue, lacquered, about extremely fine (9) £2,000-£2,600 --- M.I.D. London Gazette 24 September 2010: ‘In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1 October 2009 to 31 March 2010.’ A published extract of the original Recommendation states: ‘Vickery’s action is but one example of his enormous courage, fighting spirit and outstanding leadership in the most difficult of circumstances. He has displayed his exemplary qualities consistently throughout the tour during many other significant engagements with the enemy. His lack of any self-regard, and in particular the way in which he dealt with the death of one of his soldiers, marks Vickery out as someone who is truly deserving of the highest public recognition.’ Ryan James Vickery, a native of Braintree, Essex, was born in 1974 and was educated at Notley High School, before attesting for the Royal Anglian Regiment in 1999. He served with the 1st Battalion in Afghanistan during Operation Herrick XI, and for his gallantry was Mentioned in Despatches. A contemporary newspaper report in the Basildon Canvey Southend Echo, published on 28 September 2010, gives the following account: ‘Acting Sergeant Ryan Vickery had been leading a patrol towards the insurgent front line in Helmand, Afghanistan. During a gun battle, with the enemy just 350 metres away and the nearby ground heavily booby-trapped with improvised explosive devices (I.E.D.s), the group’s mortar controller was seriously injured by an enemy sniper. An I.E.D. then detonated, killing a rifleman and wounding a section commander, burying them under a huge pile of rubble. Sergeant Vickery began digging them out of the rubble with his hands, saving the commander’s life. He then quickly secured an area to allow the mortar controller to be evacuated by helicopter. Once the casualty was safely removed, Sergeant Vickery led his men to press on with the mission, forcing the insurgents back hundreds of metres before coming under renewed fire. Forced to crawl 100 metres across open ground towards the enemy, they ultimately defeated them. Recalling the occasion, Sergeant Vickery said: “It was extremely traumatic for the few seconds and it is either crumble or continue. You just can’t get to think. You just have to get on with it. For a split second I could have thrown in the towel”.’ Vickery was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in October 2014 (London Gazette 21 October 2014).