Conspicuous Gallantry Cross to be sold at Noonans for quest to build a retreat for soldiers on the Scottish highlands

Noonans London, UK - 37-year-old Brad ‘Bugsy’ Malone left the Royal Marines after 16 years in 2018 and he now wants to build a homestead/ retreat in the Scottish Highlands for like-minded soldiers to use and experience a new way of life.

To be able to finance his plans, he is selling his ‘Operation Herrick IX - Afghanistan’ Conspicuous Gallantry Cross that was awarded when he was section commander with 45 Commando Royal Marines. The C.G.C was awarded for his involvement on three separate occasions in Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2008 and will be offered for sale by Noonans in a sale of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. It is estimated at £100,000 -140,000.

Born in Seaton Delaval, Northumberland, he now lives near Loch Lomond. He joined the Marines at the age of 16 and has been on tours of Iraq and Afghanistan. Malone was rewarded for his ‘fighting prowess and gallantry’. When he was invested with the C.G.C at Buckingham Palace on 11 December 2009, he chose that auspicious day to successfully propose to his girlfriend.

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.’ He distinguished himself on no less than three occasions while on patrols, including: leading a bayonet charge to repel an ambush; rescuing his pinned down troop sergeant from the ‘Killing Ground’ and lastly when on the receiving end of an IED-initiated ambush.

The final time was on December 31, 2008, 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 general-purpose machine gun, 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 organized 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.

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!

FREE ONLINE BIDDING: WWW.NOONANS.CO.UK

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NOONANS — A BRIEF HISTORY - In 1991, its first year of trading, the company held three medal auctions and sold 1,200 lots for a total hammer price of £553,000, however 30 years later, Noonans is established as the premier medal auctioneer worldwide. Two years later, in 1993, it opened a coin department which also auctions commemorative medals and tokens. In 2015 Noonans (then Dix Noonan Webb) added jewellery to its sales calendar as well as setting up a stand alone banknotes department and expanding into premises next door. WWW.NOONANS.CO.UK