Iraq 2003-11, 1 clasp, 19 Mar to 28 Apr 2003 (MA1 R W D Price D244244R RN) mounted as worn, extremely fine £200-£300

Ray Price, Medical Assistant 1st class, attached Commando Logistics Regiment, Royal Marines.

‘MA Price joined Medical Squadron prior to its deployment to the Gulf... His main role being the treatment of all primary care patients. He was also responsible for the daily checks of medical equipment and was on hand to assist staff on the trauma bays. His Medical Section was attached to 42 Cdo RM RAP, during the Commando raids on Al Faw and Basra. During this time he coped well with the arduous field conditions and he employed sound clinical skills when dealing with casualties’ (Extract from CDO LOG REGT RM Appraisal Report for period 29 January to 30 April, 2003, refers).

The following extracts are taken from a letter written by Ray Price in February 2007, when selling his medal and uniform top:

“Joined the Royal Navy on 4 January 1999 initially as a Weapons Engineer on Submarines but failed the Medical required for submarine service. From the choice of Chef, Steward, Writer, Stores Accountant or Medical Assistant, I chose Medical Assistant as it was my second choice.

Began Medical Assistant training in September 1999 at Keogh Barrack and successfully completed in June 2000. I then joined HMS YORK (Type 42 Destroyer) and completed a deployment in the Mediterranean with the NATO fleet. Spent several years in a couple of Medical Centres including HMS COLLINGWOOD, RNAS Yeovilton. In January 2003 I was drafted to Royal Hospital Haslar but a few weeks later received a late notice draft to the Medical Squadron in the Commando Logistics Regiment to deploy to Iraq with them.

The Medical Squadron is situated not far behind the Frontline and is highly mobile dealing with Emergencies which require Damage Control Surgery, before the casualties are evacuated to a Field Hospital, with surgeons, nurses and medics who are specially trained to deal with Battlefield casualties. My job in the Unit was to go and pick up the casualties from the frontline and take them to the Medical Squadron which is why I was attached to 42 Commando.

Approximately 50% of the time we were under fire when picking up the wounded, many of whom were civilians, including children, who were unable to get treatment from the Iraqi hospitals as they were closed due to the war.

In May 2003 I returned to Royal Hospital Haslar doing an administrative job until April 2004 where I was promoted to Leading Medical Assistant (equivalent to corporal in the Army). I created the Military Patient Administration Centre in Queen Alexandra Hospital which earned me an excellent report and finally my own Ship in February 2005 where I was the only Medic running a sickbay onboard HMS KENT (Type 23 Frigate). I joined KENT during refit and after a year and a half of work-up training we deployed to the Gulf in June 2006 where we spent six months patrolling the oil rigs near Iraq. I left the Royal Navy in early 2007.”

Sold with the recipient’s Number 1 uniform jacket, complete with named label, rank insignia and medal ribbon, together with more than 10 copied Appraisal Reports covering the period February 1999 to December 2005, and other research, including a CD of photographs covering his service in the Iraq war and aboard HMS KENT in the Gulf.