Orders, Decorations and Medals

Private David Boyer, ‘B’ Company, 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, who was wounded during the Falklands War, having previously been awarded a G.O.C’s. Commendation for Northern Ireland in 1978

General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24227515 Pte., Para); South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (24227515 Pte, Para); together with original Regular Army Certificate of Service ‘Red Book’; and a Falklands War Tribute Medallion, struck in gilt metal, 51mm, the obverse with arms of Stockton-on-Tees, and inscribed ‘Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, the reverse with depiction of the town hall, the edge inscribed ‘Pte. Boyer, D., 3 PARA, 13th Sept. 1982’; together with original named certificate of issue, these last two items mounted in a contemporary glazed display frame, nearly extremely fine and the last rare (3) £1800-2200

David Boyer was born in May 1955, enlisted in April 1971 and passed out in March 1973 with 384 Platoon. He qualified for his General Service Medal whilst serving with 3 Para in Northern Ireland, where they were serving in the Ardoyne, Belfast between February and June 1974. He also completed three further tours between 1976 and 1981, receiving a G.O.C’s. Commendation on 11 December 1978.

During the Falklands War in 1982 he served with’ B’ Company, 3 Para. This Company was extensively engaged in the battle for Mount Longdon, and it was one of ‘B’ Company’s Platoon Sergeants, Ian McKay, who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross for this action.

Boyer is mentioned by name in the Pegasus Journal of April 1983, which covers the Falklands War: ‘Private Boyer with wife and family arrived in September complete with Argentinian company flags and war wounds. The flags are now in the CQMS store and the wounds healed.’ He is not however, listed as Wounded or injured on the official casualty return, although his is not an isolated case, with several other casualties also known to have been omitted from the official casualty return.

On his return from the Falklands he was presented with a specially struck medallion by his home town of Stockton on Tees. It is not known how many of these specially struck medals were awarded, but the only other example of this medallion known to be extant is to a Royal Engineer and is now held by the National Army Museum.

See Lot 1540 for illustration of medals and related letter