A pair of 1982 South Atlantic Medals with Rosette (1 is loos...

Hammer

£2,400

A pair of 1982 South Atlantic Medals with Rosette (1 is loose in box) to 24584353 Spr M E Richard RE good very fine and better. One is a replacement medal where the 'R' for Replacement has been carefully erased. Both with named boxes of issue. Mark Edwin 'Sparko' Richard served with 9 Para Sqn RE and was severely injured, suffering 38% burns to his body when the Sir Galahad was bombed by Argentine jets on 8th June 1982 at Bluff Cove.
He was born 13/9/62, enlisted 20/10/80, qualified from training as a Combat Engineer 16/4/81. He then qualified as a Specialist Combat Tractor Driver and was posted to No 2 Troop, 9 Para.
During the Falklands landings, 2 Troop were attached to 2 Para and landed with them as San Carlos on 21st May. They were heavily involved in clearing minefields, checking buildings for booby traps etc. On the 7th June, they were aboard HMS Fearless to take part in an assault near Port Stanley. The mission was aborted due to bad weather, so 9 Para were dropped off at Bluff Cove by helicopter. A few men decided to take the opportunity to rest on board the Sir Galahad lying off shore. When the Sir Galahad was bombed, Mark was asleep in his sleeping bag on the Tank Deck and did not wake up, even after the bombs exploded. He only woke, when he was feeling hotter than usual, to discover his sleeping bag had been burned to a cinder around him. On evacuation to the hospital at Ajax Bay, he underwent the first of almost 70 surgical operations and he was the most seriously burned soldier after Simon Weston, who survived. He was evacuated back to the UK on the SS Uganda where he was hospitalised until 25th June. He was discharged from the Army on 13th June 1984, but his suffering continued, both physically and mentally, for the rest of his life. He died of heart disease caused by smoke inhalation on 13th November 2006, a Falklands casualty, 24 years after he was so badly wounded. His replacement medal was issued on 27th July 1992. Ex DNW 18/5/11. (See photo) (R)