Twelve: Warrant Officer Class I P. W. Griffiths, Royal Corps of Signals, who served as a Special Forces Communications Officer attached to the S.A.S. for the majority of his 21-year operational career, from the ‘Bravo Two Zero’ patrols in the First Gulf War in 1991, to a final tour of Afghanistan in 2012, for which he received a Major-General’s Commendation

Gulf 1990-91, 1 clasp, 16 Jan to 28 Feb 1991 (24816801 Sig P W Griffiths R Signals); U.N. Medal, on UNPROFOR riband; N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Former Yugoslavia, with ‘2’ emblem on riband; General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24816801 Cpl P W Griffiths R Signals); N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Kosovo; Operational Service Medal 2000, for Sierra Leone, with rosette (24816801 Cpl P W Griffiths R Signals); Operational Service Medal 2000, for Afghanistan, 1 clasp, Afghanistan (24816801 Sgt P W Griffiths R Signals); Jubilee 2002, unnamed as issued; Jubilee 2012, unnamed as issued; Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 2011 (SSgt P W Griffiths R Signals 24816801); Volunteer Reserves Service Medal, E.II.R. (24816801 Cpl P W Griffiths R Signals); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (SSgt P W Griffiths R Signals 24816801) mounted court-style as worn in this order, generally nearly extremely fine (12) £3,000-£4,000

Paul William Griffiths joined the Royal Corps of Signals (Territorial Army) in 1990, and served as a reservist with R Troop (V) 264 S.A.S. Signal Squadron during Operation Granby (Gulf War) in 1991. In his own words, ‘Although not mobilised I was deployed to the Middle East in support of A and B Squadrons, 22 S.A.S., as a Communications Operator, providing strategic and tactical communications to deployed patrols including the now infamous call-sign, Bravo Two Zero.’

Griffiths saw further service with the United Nations Forces in Bosnia in 1993-94: ‘Again, deployed whist serving as a reservist, I served with B Squadron, 22 S.A.S., mostly based in Gornji Vakuf and Gorazde, but travelled all around the theatre to other C.I.M.I.C. Houses in the United Kingdom Liaison Officer area of responsibility.’

Transferring to the Regular Forces on 13 December 1994, and promoted Corporal on 13 December 1995, Griffiths served two tours with the N.A.T.O. Forces in Former Yugoslavia from 1996-99, ‘Firstly deploying in 1996 with a composite Squadron made up from members of 21 and 23 S.A.S., who were employed as Joint Commission Observers. I was based in Banja Luka for 4 months before moving to Sarajevo for the final 2 months where I became part of a 2-man Forward Air Controller team with a member of D Squadron, 22 S.A.S. Between mid-1998 and the end of 1999, I returned a further 3 times to Operation Tango running the communications detachment and deploying on covert reconnaissance task, taking part in several operations to arrest indicted war criminals wanted by the International War Crimes Tribunal. I was then deployed to Kosovo in 1999 in response to the Russian move on Pristina Airport with elements of G Squadron 22 S.A.S., part of small team task operating covertly from Northern Albania.’

In between his services in Former Yugoslavia and Kosovo, in 1997 Griffiths was based in Northern Ireland, as part of Operation Banner, as a Province-wide United Kingdom Special Forces Communications Operator based in Aldergrove, and was awarded his Volunteer Reserves Service Medal on 23 November 1999.

Griffiths was next deployed to Sierra Leone, as part of Operation Barras, in 2000: ‘I was initially deployed as part of the 2-man activation party to set up the Forward Mounting Base in Senegal. Receiving B Company, 1 Parachute Regiment, followed then by the advance party of D Squadron, 22 S.A.S. and elements of the S.B.S., I arrived to carry out detailed planning prior to moving to Sierra Leone. It was also part of my role to install and test tactical satellite communications onto all of CH47 aircraft that were due to take part in the operation. Once this was complete, I moved forward to Lungi Camp where I provided tactical and strategic communications during the operation. I remained as part of the recovery team and was one of the last to leave theatre.’

Promoted Sergeant on 4 March 2002, Griffiths’ final operational posting was to Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick: ‘I completed 3 tours of Afghanistan between 2005 and 2012 with the United Kingdom Special Forces Group, employed on Team Tasks training specialist Afghan Forces. I was also deployed with the composite 52 Infantry Brigade in 2007-08 providing training for the Brigade Reconnaissance Force and Joint Forward Air Controllers on the new communications suite deployed to theatre. I completed a final tour of Afghanistan in 2011-12 with 20 Armoured Brigade, where I deployed as a Troop Commander, and for which I received a Major-General’s Commendation.’

Griffiths was promoted Staff Sergeant on 9 July 2005, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 12 December 2009. He was promoted Warrant Officer Class II on 9 July 2012, and was advanced to his ultimate rank of Warrant Officer Class I on 27 June 2016. He retired from the Army on 12 December 2018.

Sold with a limited edition (no. 42 of 300) print by the artist Kevin Lyles (2009), additionally signed by the artist, depicting the role of a Special Forces Communicator employed as a S.A.S. Commander’s Tactical Signaller on Operations, entitled ‘Sabre 56’; and a copy of the recipient’s Record of Service.