Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The landmark posthumous George Medal awarded to Sergeant D. J. ‘Aaron’ Garside, 10th (Volunteer) Battalion, Parachute Regiment, who sustained fatal injuries in saving the life of a recruit under his supervision during live hand grenade training in July 1979 - it was the first posthumous award of the George Medal following the amendment of the Royal Warrant in 1977

George Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (23913522 Sgt. David J. Garside, Para.) in Royal Mint fitted case of issue, extremely fine £4,000-£5,000

G.M. London Gazette 25 March 1980.

The original recommendation - for a Queen’s Commendation for Brave Conduct (Posthumous) - states: ‘On 11th July 1979, during recruit cadre training at Sennybridge, Sergeant Garside, a Territorial Army Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in the 10th (Volunteer) Battalion, Parachute Regiment, was supervising live grenade throwing.
During the live grenade throwing an incident took place when a recruit, in the act of preparing to throw a live grenade, allowed the striker level to spring off prematurely, and at the same time appeared to freeze with the grenade in his hand. At this point Sergeant Garside, acting with total disregard for his own safety and with great resource, took preventive action to move the recruit to safety whilst at the same time endeavouring to get him to either throw the grenade or drop it. It was in the course of this action, whilst Sergeant Garside was pushing the recruit to safety that the grenade dropped to the ground and exploded underneath Sergeant Garside.
As a result of the explosion Sergeant Garside sustained fatal injuries and the recruit received superficial injuries. It is clear that Sergeant Garside acted with great coolness and presence of mind, and with complete disregard for his own safety, and in so doing gave his life saving the life of a recruit.
His act was one of great bravery, sacrifice and coolness.’

David John Garside, known to his friends as ‘Aaron’, was born on 12 October 1946 at Bombay, India and joined the Territorial Army in 1972. He was civilly employed as a manager (Motor Accessories) in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

Garside, a Sergeant and Training Wing Instructor in the 10th Volunteer Battalion, Parachute Regiment, T.A., saved the life of Private D. V. Willoughby in carrying out the acts described in the above citation. He died the same day at Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny and was posthumously awarded the George Medal - the first such occasion a posthumous George Medal was awarded following the amendment of the Royal Warrant in 1977.

Sold together with a poignant archive of original documents and photographs comprising:
(i) Six press photographs of the recipient’s funeral with representative’s from the Parachute Regiment in attendance.
(ii) The recipient’s Original Death Certificate dated 1 October 1979 stating cause of death to be shock and compound fracture of leg and soft tissue injuries caused by hand grenade explosion.
(iii) Original Marriage Certificate dated 29 January 1973.
(iv) Certificate of Registration of Death dated 5 October 1979.
(v) Letter to the recipient’s wife from employers Brown Brothers Limited of Swindon expressing shock and deep sympathy in her bereavement, dated 12 July 1979.
(vi) Letter to the recipient’s wife from employers Inductron Limited of Basingstoke expressing shock and sadness upon learning of the ‘dreadful accident’ which took her husband’s life, dated 24 July 1979.
(vii) Letters (2) from Amery-Parkes & Co., solicitors, dated 11 January and 14 February 1980.