Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A well-documented Northern Ireland M.I.D. campaign group of four awarded to Colour Sergeant I. Missenden, Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment and the Force Research Unit (FRU), who carried out 6 tours of Northern Ireland - suffering a gunshot wound as an 18 year old infantryman during his first, and going on to distinguish himself in an intelligence capacity as an ‘agent handler’ whilst serving with West Det (FRU), St. Angelo, Fermanagh. His tours spanned 20 years, and during that time Missenden was involved in multiple contacts with the IRA, becoming intimate with their methods, capturing gunmen and being on the receiving end of ambushes and mortar attack

General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland, with M.I.D. oak leaf (24312535 Pte I Missenden DERR); U.N. Medal, on UNFICYP ribbon; Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 1994, E.II.R., with Additional Award Bar (24312535 Sgt I Missenden DERR); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (24312535 SSgt I Missenden DERR) good very fine (4) £4,000-£6,000

M.I.D. London Gazette 11 October 1988.

Ian Missenden was born in British Military Hospital at Iserlohn, Germany in November 1955. The following extracts are taken from an extensive autobiographical account provided by the recipient of his service career:

‘I... enlisted in the 1st Battalion the Duke of Edinburgh’s Royal Regiment in Bristol in November 1972 at the age of 17. On completion of training at the depot Exeter I joined my regiment in Berlin, who were then preparing for an 18 month tour of Northern Ireland. Not being old enough to deploy with the regiment, I was attached to The Devon and Dorset Regiment until my 18th birthday, I then rejoined the regiment in Ballykinler, Northern Ireland. The regiment’s role as province reserve was to re-enforce other units province-wide.

First Tour of Northern Ireland: November 1973 - January 1975
On arriving in Northern Ireland I joined 10 Platoon, D Company as a rifleman. During the tour we (the platoon) deployed to Aughnacloy, Belfast, Bessbrook, Sion Mills, Newry and Crossmaglen. The duties of the platoon, included foot patrols, vehicle checkpoints, searches and boat patrols with the Royal Navy on Carlingford Lough conducting stop and search operations on boats crossing the border.

In June 1974 my platoon (10 Platoon) deployed to Newry to assist a battery from 7 Royal Horse Artillery (7 RHA Para) with their workload. On Thursday 27th June I was a member of a mobile patrol who went to assist the RUC in crowd control at a factory dispute when the patrol came under fire in an IRA ambush where I received a gunshot wound to the back. The bullet entered my back, punctured my lung and exited my chest. After 6 weeks in the hospital I had made a full recovery and was discharged for 4 weeks sick leave before returning to my unit...

Shooting Incident Newry 1974
On Thursday 27th June my section was the QRF, providing assistance for foot patrols and RUC. It was a busy day, we had been in and out on various tasks non-stop. At about 1900hrs, having just returned from a task, we were having a meal in the cookhouse when the tannoy came to life: “QRF commander to ops room.” The section loaded weapons and waited by the landrovers for Steve, the section commander, to return to brief us on the task. The RUC needed assistance with an angry crowd involved in a dispute at a factory on the Warrenpoint road, which was situated on the other side of Newry. I was with Gerry in the back of the lead vehicle.

The vehicles stopped on the Warrenpoint road in a position overlooking the factory with the angry crowd, which stood 50 metres away. On the order ‘debus’ the section took up positions on the bank of the canal, while Steve assessed the situation. A few minutes later the shout to “Mount Up” came. The vehicle had barely moved when several things happened simultaneously; I felt a great slap on my back, putting me face down in the vehicle; the vehicle stopping abruptly; the sound of incoming fire; Gerry jumping over me and out of the vehicle in the direction of the firers. I could hear bullets zipping overhead as I picked myself up and grabbed my rifle, which I must have dropped when I received the ‘slap.’ That’s when I noticed the blood where I had been laying, which hadn’t been there before. Meanwhile the fire fight and shouting continued. I didn’t feel like I’d been shot as there was no pain but I thought the blood was mine, after checking my chest I confirmed it was! There was a hole with blood seeping from it, right where I thought my heart should be, and that’s when the pain kicked in. While I was still trying to believe what had happened, the shooting and noise ceased. Whilst carrying out a head check, it was discovered I was missing. Gerry found me and I was added to the contact report: one casualty, gunshot wound. Steve was told to take me directly to the helicopter landing zone (LZ) situated about 100 metres from our base, the other side of Newry.... On arriving at the LZ the battery medic took over and I was placed on a stretcher, and he applied field dressings to entry and exit wounds; I knew I had a punctured lung from the bubbles in the blood around the exit wound. Within a few minutes I was loaded into a helicopter, accompanied by the medic and on the way to Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast. By the time the helicopter landed at MPH it was dark and I was in a lot of pain, and having problems breathing due to a punctured lung. If it wasn’t for the medic I would have probably given up, I just wanted to close my eyes and sleep, even though I knew it could be the end for me...

Before 7 RHA left the province, the OC, BSM and the medic who took me to MPH visited me and told me what happened after I left for the hospital. Over a dozen suspects were arrested, six were detained by the Special Branch. Empty cases found at the firing point were from a Garrand and M1 carbine. I’d been hit by a round from an M1 carbine. The round had gone through my flack jacket, body and through the flack jacket on its way out, before losing power and dropping into the outer lining of the flack jacket... the exit wound was three inches long...

Before leaving the province I was involved in and witnessed several other terrorist incidents.’

The other ‘incidents’ alluded to above included the Long Kesh Riot in October 1974, the Sandes Cafe bomb at Ballykinler, 28 October 1974, and an ambush at a farm in Ballsmill in November of the same year:

Ballsmill Incident 1974
Information was received via the confidential tip line, that there was a weapons hide in an unused farm complex on the border at Ballsmill. A search was planned for early the following morning. The Royal Engineer Search Team (REST) would conduct the search and the platoon would provide the cordon. I was chosen to be the radio operator and part of a four man team led by the platoon commander, and tasked to insert that night and watch over the complex. The rest of the platoon were flying in at daybreak to set up the cordon and the REST (9 Sqn RE) shortly afterwards. A chopper dropped the team a few miles out from the target, and we walked the rest of the way. High ground to the north of the farm complex was ideal for the job. We set up in a hedgerow 50 metres from the target and we settled into our position for the night. The border, a hedgerow, lay 70 metres to our left, ran parallel past the farm complex and continued uphill for approximately 175 metres, then turned sharp right and out of view. Two sides of the complex faced the border. Before first light the team moved cautiously down the hill to the complex; which was a series of stone buildings surround a courtyard. Two entry/exit points, one at the north side coming from the road and the other leading to the fields at the rear of the complex. The courtyard was knee deep in cow slurry, and what couldn’t be seen from our position on the hill, a large petrol tanker in the courtyard.

At daybreak the choppers arrived with the platoon and they took up their cordon positions. Not long afterwards the REST arrived with an array of tools and equipment. The platoon commander gave a situation update to the search team commander; about the previously unknown petrol tanker. After an inspection of the tanker by a few of the search team it was decided to be safe to continue.

The REST started moving their equipment into the courtyard. I sent a radio check to the ops room at BBK; no reply. I tried a couple of times, still no answer. The farm complex was in a dip in the ground. Often the antenna required a bit more elevation to work. I climbed on top of the tanker with the radio and sent a radio check again. This time I had an answer. While I was thinking about jumping down into the slurry, the decision was made for me. A ‘Whoosh’ and the following explosion of an RPG demolished part of the wall a few metres from me. The air was full of smoke and shards of granite. Rounds being fired from high ground behind the complex began striking the remainder of the wall, just metres away, and then the first mortar round landed in the courtyard. The slurry soaked up the explosion of the mortar round, but threw up a spray of cow shit that covered everyone in the courtyard. I sent “Contact, wait out” to ops room in BBK. I didn’t wait for acknowledgement. The second mortar round landed behind the tanker as I grabbed the radio and jumped to the ground. The tanker was the intended target, and I had been on top of it! The cordon engaged in the fire fight, and inside the courtyard everyone looked for a safe place. Rounds continued to thud into the courtyard as I joined those taking cover behind the building at the rear of the complex that was shielded from the gunmen on the high ground. I said to the platoon commander “I’m off to the cordon.” He replied “No need to, they have it under control, you’ll be safe here.”

I stopped for a split second, to consider the options and then the third mortar round splashed down in the courtyard. I knew being shot was survivable, being close to an exploding tanker with 10,000 gallons of petrol was not. I broke cover, and raced towards the cordon. I could hear the rounds zipping overhead and thumping into the buildings behind me. The adrenaline was pumping as I raced across the open ground to the cordon. I covered the distance in record time and began returning fire to the gunmen in the hedgerow on the skyline. The fire fight continued for 20 minutes; eventually incoming rounds from the hedge petered out and normality returned. The information received that placed the platoon at the farm complex was a ‘come on.’ There was no weapons hide. It was a lure to put us in the killing area of an IRA ambush. Luckily, no injuries for the platoon. Who knows if the IRA had injuries, we didn’t go and look. We’d been sucked in once that day, no need to walk into another trap. The IRA usually only fired a few rounds and then beat it. This was a well planned ambush with more than six gunmen, a mortar and RPG. If they went to this much planning, with man power and amount of weapons, there was a possibility of a bomb in the hedgerow waiting for us. A decision was made to abandon the search and everyone was later extracted by chopper.’ (Ibid)

Missenden was posted for a 6 month tour of Cyprus in August 1975. He decided to leave the army at the end of 1976:

‘After a few months of civvy street I realised I had made a mistake, but too proud to give up without trying. Nine months later and it wasn’t going to get any better and I went to the recruiting office in Taunton and re-enlisted.’ (Ibid)

After 2 years in the Royal Engineers, in particular 65 Corps Support Squadron, Missenden requested to transfer back to the DERR. He returned to his original battalion, and carried out his second tour of Northern Ireland (this time as a Patrol Commander of the Close Observation Platoon) in Bessbrook Mill, South Armagh, March - September 1983.

COP Tour - Meigh Post Office 1983
Towards ‘the end of a busy tour, a task for four COP teams to work together on the same job came from TCG(S). The post office in the village of Meigh was to be robbed by the IRA at 0800hrs... It was Giro day and the safe contained plenty of cash. The village centred around a crossroad with roads leading off North, South, East and West. The post office, located on the South/West corner of the crossroads. My team was given the road leading North, the other teams the other three roads. The front door of the post office could only be seen from the North. The robbery was to take place at 0800hrs, by two armed IRA men on a motorbike....’ (Ibid)

Missenden’s team were inserted into position the night before the robbery was due to take place. The plan was forced to be changed, as the IRA finally appeared several hours earlier than planned. Missenden and his team were ordered to advance up the road upon the arrival of the gunmen and effect a capture:

An hour after the last update it happened. A motorbike pulled up right outside the door, the pillion passenger entered the post office, while the other guy remained on the bike.... Immediately adrenaline kicked in. I ‘triggered’ the other teams and moved onto the road... As I got closer I was focussed on the guy on the bike... He was oblivious to our presence, too busy looking at what his mate was up to inside. I was a few metres from him before he knew I was there. The look on his face was priceless. He decided he was going to ride away until I brought my rifle into the aim and shouted “Stop or I’ll shoot”.... As he was being dragged off the bike and being searched... the pillion passenger appeared from the post office. Jacket collar turned up, hands in pockets, head down and avoiding eye contact as he strolled past me. I shouted “Where do you think you’re going?” He continued walking until I grabbed him by the collar. He screamed as I put him up against the wall “It’s not real - it’s not real!” I patted him down and removed a replica semi automatic handgun from his jacket pocket... The proceeds of the robbery were in the lining of his jacket....’ (Ibid)

Missenden did another 6 months in Cyprus, before starting his third tour of Northern Ireland in August 1985. He advanced to Sergeant and was recommended to carry out training in order to join the Force Research Unit. Missenden then carried out a 4 month intensive course at the Special Intelligence Wing, Intelligence Corps Depot, Ashford:

‘Two days before the end of the course members were told if they had passed and what Det you were going to. I was informed that I had passed and was posted to West Det at St. Angelo, Fermanagh as an agent handler.

Fourth Tour of Northern Ireland - West Det FRU, June 1986 - January 1988
The next 18 months were spent at West Det FRU employed as a handler. The job involved handling existing agents and identifying potential targets for recruitment, using resources available and skills learnt on the course. Liaison with local units in the TAOR. After the tour I was awarded an MID for my work with the FRU.

At the end of my tour I rejoined the Battalion who had taken up the role as the resident British Infantry regiment with 48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade in Hong Kong... Once the Mortar concentration had taken place I returned to the FRU in Northern Ireland.

Fifth Tour of Northern Ireland - Central Det FRU, January 1989 - June 1991
Central Det FRU at Aughnacloy was a newly formed Det, because of the increase in activity by the IRA in East Tyrone; enough to warrant a dedicated Det. Same job as with West Det. An extension for a further year to my tour was accepted, but with the breakdown of my marriage and having full custody of my daughter, I requested to return to the Battalion 6 months into the extension. I then rejoined the Battalion 6 months into the extension. I then rejoined the Battalion in Catterick, who were now in the role of airmobile infantry in the newly formed 48 Airmobile Brigade.

On returning to the Battalion I was employed as recce platoon Sgt. That year the Brigade exercised in Germany and Salisbury Plain. In 1992 the Battalion exercised in Fort Lewis, USA. Later that year I attended and passed the Brigade and Regimental Intelligence Officers course, and moved to the Battalion Int. Cell as the Assistant Intelligence Officer (AIO) in the rank of Colour Sergeant.

The government at the time decided the army needed to reduce in size, and volunteers for redundancy were asked for. I decided to apply, as I was only a couple of years from discharge. All applications would take months to process and there would be no answer until the 27th February 1993.

Sixth Tour of Northern Ireland, March - September 1993
I was due to deploy to BBK, South Armagh on the 28th of February. The day before I received the news, my voluntary redundancy request had been successful and I would be discharged on the 30th of September. Others that were successful with their redundancy requests did not deploy on tour. I was asked if I would still deploy by the CO, and my answer was of course. The following day I deployed with the advance element of the Battalion.

I completed the tour and then returned to Catterick for discharge. A few months later I received a L.S. & G.C. medal in the post, and the following year I received an ACSM 1 and Bar form the medals office.’ (Ibid)

Sold with the following related documents: M.I.D. Certificate, dated 11 October 1988, glazed and framed; Regular Army Certificate of Service; Certificate of Qualifications Letter to recipient from Major General P. J. H. Leng, M.B.E., M.C., Headquarters, Northern Ireland, wishing him a fully recovery after being wounded, dated 28 June 1974; Letters of congratulation to recipient on the occasions of his award of the M.I.D., including from: Lieutenant General Sir John Waters, K.C.B., C.B.E., HQ Northern Ireland; Major General R. J. Hodges, O.B.E., Commander Land Forces, HQ Northern Ireland; Major General C. T. Shortis, C.B., C.B.E., Colonel Commandant, The Prince of Wale’s Division; Major General G. D. Johnson, O.B.E., M.C., HQ British Forces Hong Kong; Brigadier C. J. Lee, C.B.E., Divisional Brigadier, The Prince of Wale’s Division; Brigadier V. J. Beauchamp, Commander 48 Gurkha Infantry Brigade; Colonel W. A. Mackereth, Assistant Chief of Staff G2, HQ Northern Ireland; Lieutenant Colonel J. G. Kerr, Q.G.M., Force Research Unit, HQ Northern Ireland; Lieutenant Colonel R. A. Langstaff, O.B.E., Specialist Intelligence Wing, Ashford; an extensive autobiographical typed account provided by the recipient of his service career; a number of newspaper cuttings, several annotated photographic images of recipient in uniform and other ephemera.