Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A particularly fine ‘Operation Herrick IX - Afghanistan’ C.G.C. group of four awarded to Corporal Bradley ‘Bugsy’ Malone, 45 Commando, Royal Marines - who was ‘awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for his ‘fighting prowess and gallantry’; Corporal Malone showing this on no fewer than three separate occasions, each one of which would have merited the award by itself.’

Malone, as part of Zulu Company, operated out of the British-manned Forward Operating Base ‘Gibraltar’ in Helmand Province next to the Helmand River, near the town of Sangin, which was used to monitor and intercept enemy forces between Gereshk and Sangin. The base being described by the Taliban as the ‘mouth of hell’, or the ‘devil’s place.’

Malone distinguished himself on no less than 3 occasions whilst on patrols, including: leading a bayonet charge to repel an ambush; rescuing his pinned down troop sergeant from the ‘Killing Ground’ - “I didn’t think of it as dangerous or risking my life. I saw an opportunity, you just take your balls in your mouth and get on with it”; and lastly when on the receiving end of an IED-initiated ambush.

The final time ‘was when 10 Troop was moving north of FOB Gibraltar along a narrow but deep waterway. They knew the Taliban were in the area: their task was to seek them out, draw them out, and then take them out. Shortly after midday, the patrol was caught in an immense explosion. The leading section commander was killed instantly, while in front of him, the point marine was blown across a ditch into an open field, very seriously wounded. The third man was Bugsy Malone who, still clutching his GPMG, was hurled backwards off his feet. Shaken and bruised but otherwise OK, he collected his wits, shouted for two men to come forward to help and then grabbed a radio set to call for support.” Malone organised the evacuation of casualties, and called down artillery and air support whilst effecting the timely withdrawal of his section, all under the heaviest of fire from the enemy

Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, E.II.R., reverse officially inscribed ‘Cpl B Malone RM P061156L 2009’; Iraq 2003-11, no clasp (Mne B Malone P061156L RM); Operational Service Medal 2000, for Afghanistan, 1 clasp, Afghanistan (Mne B Malone RM P061156L); Jubilee 2012, unnamed as issued, mounted court-style as worn, extremely fine (4) £100,000-£140,000

C.G.C. London Gazette 10 September 2009 (amended 13 October 2009, due to London Gazette erroneously listing Marine James Malone, Royal Marines, 30008326):

‘For gallant and distinguished services in Afghanistan during the period 1 October 2008 to 31 March 2009.’

The London Gazette as always gives no specific detail of Malone’s heroism, but the following ‘citation’ is pieced together from several letters and other published sources, all of which quote various excerpts from the original recommendation:

‘Corporal Malone served in Afghanistan with Zulu Company, 45 Commando. On three separate occasions Corporal Malone has excelled in the heat of battle and demonstrated gallantry, leadership and courage far beyond that reasonably expected of a junior rank.

In the first incident, after his company was caught in a fierce ambush, Corporal Malone fearlessly led his section with calm authority, ordering his men to bayonet charge the enemy who broke and fled in the face of his determined onslaught.

Subsequently, in an operation in November [2008], when his section was pinned down by heavy and accurate fire, he displayed a complete disregard for his own safety, scrambling from the cover of a ditch he advanced across open ground dodging a hail of bullets in order to collect Troop Sergeant Tompkins who had become isolated in the killing area whilst firing mortars at the enemy. Fighting together, the pair managed to hold off the insurgents and reach safety.

Corporal Malone’s final act of bravery occurred on 31 December 2008 when his Troop was ambushed and a massive improvised explosive device was triggered, which killed his Troop Commander. Commanding and firing from an exposed position Corporal Malone galvanised efforts to recover casualties and infused those around him. Undaunted, he immediately took control of the situation and by firing more than 900 rounds, he managed to keep the insurgents at bay while providing covering fire for the evacuation of the dead man.

Corporal Malone’s fighting prowess and nerve turned the tide of the battle and led directly to the successful extraction of 10 Troop from a deadly ambush. His exceptional resourcefulness and courage were remarkable and in the finest traditions of the Corps.’

Bradley ‘Bugsy’ Malone was born in Seaton Delaval, Northumberland. He provided the following details in an interview and feature piece which appeared in Esquire in March 2010:

‘Corporal Brad Malone, 24, is a section commander with 45 Commando Royal Marines... he joined the Marines at 16 and has been on tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. Malone was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, the second-highest British military honour, last September. His citation states that “on three separate occasions [in Afghanistan], he excelled in the heat of battle” and “demonstrated gallantry, leadership and courage far beyond that reasonably expected of a junior rank.”

“I had my heart set on the Marines from when I was very young. They’re a different breed, really. The Marines have the longest and toughest infantry training course in the world, and joining them was, for me, the ultimate challenge.

I went out to Afghanistan in October 2008, and was at a FOB [Forward Operating Base] near Sanguin. Our role was to go on ground-domination troop patrols and to the FLET [Forward Line of Enemy Troops] to take on the Taliban. At one point, we had almost daily contacts - it was a very, very kinetic FOB to be in. I ended up being a section commander responsible for seven men, and there is no better job in the Armed Forces in Afghanistan. I had some of the best times of my life out there.

I also had some of the worst. The Marines are like a close-knit family, so if one of your best friends gets hurt it hits everyone hard. One of our troops was killed in an IED-initiated ambush while I was out there, and 11 men from 45 Commando have been killed in Afghanistan. You pick each other up and get through it.

You have to respect the Taliban to a degree because they can be ingenious and adaptable, but we’re 10 times better soldiers and fighters than they are. If they fight us, we will win. We proved it time and time again in our area of operations.

On one very long and heavy contact, though, my troop sergeant got pinned down in his mortar position by enemy fire, which was 360 [surrounding us]. So I ran to his aid [across open ground] and got him back to a safe area. I didn’t think of it as dangerous or risking my life. I saw an opportunity, you just take your balls in your mouth and get on with it. He was a good friend - and the Taliban aren’t that good shots anyway.

It’s quite an honour to get the award, although I feel I’m wearing it for all the troops in my company, for all the lads who fought, were injured, lost limbs, and who died....’

Malone served with Zulu Company, 45 Commando, Royal Marines as part of Operation Herrick IX. 45 Commando formed Battle Group North (taking over from the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment) in the Upper Sangin Valley, and Z Company was employed at FOB Gibraltar - a British-manned Forward Operating Base in Helmand Province next to the Helmand River, near the town of Sangin, used to monitor and intercept enemy forces between Gereshk and Sangin. The latter base was described by the Taliban as the ‘mouth of hell’, or the ‘devil’s place.’ Malone’s tour at FOB Gibraltar was from October 2008 to April 2009, with 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines taking command of Task Force Helmand on 8 October 2008.

The following additional detail of this tour, during which 37 men of the Task Force were killed and more than 150 wounded, is given in 3 Commando Brigade, Helmand Assault, Where the Taliban least expected them, by E. Southby-Tailyour:

‘Of the other FOBs, Gibraltar was home to Z Company, who monitored and intercepted enemy forces moving between Sangin and Gereshk. Sited eighteen kilometres north-east of Gereshk along the Helmand River, it was at the apex of a conical-shaped wedge of desert known as the Witch’s Hat, which jutted north into the green zone. It was, even by Helmand’s standards, an isolated base and the scene of some remarkable gallantry.

Corporal Bradley ‘Bugsy’ Malone was to be awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for his ‘fighting prowess and gallantry’; Corporal Malone showing this on no fewer than three separate occasions, each one of which would have merited the award by itself.

On New Year’s Eve of 2008, and moving towards known enemy positions, Corporal Malone’s team had been suddenly involved in an ambush:

“Take cover!”
“Contact! Wait out.”

As he lay in the cover of a shallow ditch, Corporal Malone weighed up the situation. He quickly decided he would lead his section in what they would want to do - attack.

“OK, lads, get your bloody bayonets on! We’ll soon sort this lot out.” Then, a moment later, “Ready?”

“We’re with you, Bugsy!”

“Come on then, what are you waiting for...?”

Confronted by the determined and controlled aggression of the Commandos, the enemy promptly fled.

“Bugger that!”

We’ll get them next time!”

On the next time, Corporal Malone showed ‘bravery and initiative far beyond his rank or experience’ when he displayed a similar level of personal courage and military acumen. While he was firing a ‘baby’ (51mm) mortar at the enemy, his troop sergeant became isolated and was now being pinned down by enemy fire, unable to move. Once more Malone, accurately gauging the seriousness of the situation, left the safety of a ditch and, braving fierce fire, reached the troop sergeant. Able now to work as a fire and manoeuvre team, the two of them were able to fight their way back to the troop.

The final time was when 10 Troop was moving north of FOB Gibraltar along a narrow but deep waterway. They knew the Taliban were in the area: their task was to seek them out, draw them out, and then take them out. Shortly after midday, the patrol was caught in an immense explosion. The leading section commander was killed instantly, while in front of him, the point marine was blown across a ditch into an open field, very seriously wounded. The third man was Bugsy Malone who, still clutching his GPMG, was hurled backwards off his feet. Shaken and bruised but otherwise OK, he collected his wits, shouted for two men to come forward to help and then grabbed a radio set to call for support.

The Taliban had other ideas, however, and before the dust settled the whole patrol came under fire from four well-prepared firing points: the closest was 100 metres to their right, with another two beyond that and the fourth 200 metres to the left. It was a classic IED-initiated ambush.

“Contact. Wait out!”

Malone, while organising the emergency treatment of the wounded as well as the evacuation of his dead section commander, managed to call for instant air support.

1241: Contact explosion.

1241: IED explosion FOB Gib. 1 x KIA and 1 x T1 casualty.

1250: Regional Command (South) recommend MERT for casevac.

1257: ETA casualty at Gib - 30 minutes.

1259: UPDATE Friendly forces came under IED attack, causing 2 x casualties, followed by small-arms fire attack while conducting treatment. FF now treating casualty and returning small-arms fire.

1302: ETA of casualty to GIB - 5 minutes.

1307: Casualty now at GIB. Remainder of friendly forces still withdrawing.

1309: MERT wheels up at Bastion.

Continuing to fight the enemy across an arc of nearly 180 degrees, but now with support from other sections moving up their flanks, no other casualties were taken. The object now was not so much to smother the enemy; rather to keep his head down to allow the casualty evacuation to take place.

This desperate time was captured in Malone’s eventual citation:

‘Undaunted, he immediately took control of the situation and by firing more than 900 rounds, he managed to keep the insurgents at bay while providing covering fire for the evacuation of the dead man.’ He was also calling in firing missions from mortars, fixed-wing ground attack aircraft and 29 Commando Regiment’s 105mm guns.

Thirty or so minutes after the initial IED contact, a Harrier GR9 homed in with a Paveway IV laser-guided bomb:

1312: Close Air Support (GR9 Harrier) dropped 1 x Paveway IV on EF FP.

The enemy went quiet. Those caught were dead; those still alive wishing to remain so. The patrol could continue getting its dead and wounded back to FOB Gibraltar.

1315: Friendly forces out of contact and en route to Gib.

1337: MERT wheels down at Gib.

1339: MERT wheels up at Gib. Escorting Apache remaining in support of troops in contact.

However, Corporal Malone and his fellow marines were not out of danger yet:

1355: Apache has observed suspected enemy setting up a potential ambush as friendly forces are withdrawing. Apache remains overhead, observing.

1422: All patrol returned to FOB.’

The news of the award of his CGC reached Malone in a most unusual fashion. As can be seen from the London Gazette entry, a certain Marine James Malone was also serving in 45 Commando at the same time as Bradley Malone. Due to a typographical error (that made it all the way to the London Gazette), James Malone was called into the CO’s office and informed of his award of the CGC - with champagne celebration and all. It shortly became clear, much to the bemusement of all concerned, that the wrong Malone was being decorated. By the time everything had been rectified there was no champagne left for ‘Bugsy’ to celebrate with! He gives his version of events as follows:

‘Receiving the news of my CGC award was outside of the normal channels. Whilst working on a firing range in Barry Budden I received a call from my friend Marine James Roxy Malone, we had served together in the same section Zulu Company on Operation Herrick 9 in Afghanistan. After a brief “Hello Royal, how you are doing?” Roxy got to the point. He said, “I’ve just been awarded a medal for the operation in Afghanistan”. I responded with “That’s amazing mate, well done”. Roxy replied, “I don’t actually think its for me mate, I think it might be for you”. I left the call with “Nah mate they don’t make those kind of mistakes, anyway I need to get back to the firing range package.”

Later that evening I had my flustered colour sergeant burst into my accommodation. He said, “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you Brad, you need to go to the CO’s house NOW”. “Why?” I spoke. He replied, “just go”.

I was greeted at the door of my CO Colonel Oliver Lee. I was invited into the living room where he informed me that I was receiving the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. I glanced into his kitchen where I saw Roxy Malone standing with the CO’s wife smiling and drinking champagne. By this point he had been informed that it was not him who was receiving the CGC but that it was in fact me. He took the news well as he had been offered an anti-tank course as an apology for the mix up which he was very pleased with.

I was told that I had to get myself down to Stonehouse Barracks within the next 12 hours to be in front of the TV cameras for the official miliary announcement at which point the CO handed me the keys to his car and I headed on my way.

I arrived at Stonehouse Barracks by the skin of my teeth with just enough time to get my uniform on and present myself to the TV crew.’

Bradley Malone was invested with the CGC at Buckingham Palace on 11 December 2009, and chose that auspicious day to also successfully propose to his girlfriend.

Sold with the following related items and documents: C.G.C. Royal Mint case of issue; named boxes of issue for campaign awards, and box of issue for Jubilee Medal; N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, ISAF, unnamed as issued, in box of issue; London Olympics 2012 Commemorative Medallion, in case of issue with Downing Street enclosure; Certificate of Service; a large number of letters of congratulation on the occasion of the award of the recipient’s C.G.C., including from: Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, K.C.B., O.B.E., First Sea Lord; Admiral Sir Trevor Soar, K.C.B., O.B.E., Commander-in-Chief Fleet; Major General A. Salmon, C.M.G., O.B.E., Commandant General Royal Marines; Rear Admiral C. P. R. Montgomery, C.B.E., Naval Secretary; Lieutenant Colonel O. A. Lee, M.B.E., CO 45 Commando Group Royal Marines; Regimental Sergeant Major B. A. Dawe, R.M.; with various other invitations, investiture documentation, photographic images, and a large quantity of related newspaper cuttings and other ephemera.