An exceptional modern campaign service group of eight awarded to Captain E. J. McDonnell, Royal Irish Regiment, who was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery during operations in Kosovo in 1999

General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24742495 E. J. McDonnell, R. Irish); N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Kosovo, with Queen’s Commendation for Bravery emblem; Operational Service Medal 2000, for Sierra Leone (24742495 W.O. 2 E. J. McDonnell, R. Irish); Iraq 2003 (24742495 W.O. 1 E. J. McDonnell, R. Irish); Operational Service Medal 2000, for Afghanistan (Capt. E. J. McDonnell, R. Irish, 565400); Jubilee 2002; Accumulated Campaign Service Medal (24742495 Sgt. E. J. McDonnell, R. Irish); Regular Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R. (24742495 S. Sgt. E. J. McDonnell, R. Irish); together with named box of issue for Afghanistan Medal, good very fine and better (8) £5000-6000

Q.C.B. London Gazette 14 April 2000 ‘... in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the former Yugoslavia during the period 1st April to 30th September 1999.’ This is believed to have been awarded for gallantry whilst escorting a convoy, when one car became separated and was encircled by a crowd of hostile civilians, the occupants of the car being rescued by Colour Sergeant McDonnell.

A year after the above tour the regiment was assigned to the 16 Air Assault Brigade as Air Assault Troops and were despatched to Sierra Leone in 2000. Here the regiment took part in active jungle patrols and it was members of this regiment that were captured by the West Side Boys and subsequently resued by the S.A.S. in Operation Barras.

Sold with the following original documentation:

i. Q.C.B. certificate inscribed ‘Colour Sergeant Edward John McDonnell, The Royal Irish Regiment’.

ii. Commission certificate in the rank of Warrant Officer, dated 13 June 2000.

iii. Portrait photograph entitled ‘The Warrant Officers’, 1st Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, 16th March 2005, Fort George, Inverness, Scotland’

iv. Commission certificate in the rank of Captain, dated, 3 April 2006.

v. Thirteen coloured copy (on A4 paper) photographs mostly including recipient on service in Afghanistan.