Sgt Alan Dennis was given the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for saving three colleagues despite a grenade blast 5ft from him in Afghanistan in 2009
A soldier who twice survived being blown up by the Taliban is selling his hero’s medal for £100,000 to give his family a better life.
Ex-Colour Sgt Alan Dennis was given the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for saving three colleagues despite a grenade blast 5ft from him in Afghanistan in 2009.
He had only just recovered from a roadside bombing.
The dad of two, 40, from Melbourne, Derbys, said: “As a husband and father I have to put their welfare first. The amount this could realise is potentially life changing.”
A hero soldier who survived twice being blown up by the Taliban is ‘reluctantly’ selling his prestigious bravery medal for £100,000.
Colour Sergeant Alan Dennis was presented with the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross - second only to the Victoria Cross - by Prince Charles for risking his life to rescue three comrades while under fire.
As he dragged the third colleague to safety a rocket propelled grenade exploded 5ft in front of him, sending him flying through the air and into a ditch, breaking his arm.
He continued firing his rifle with his good arm until help arrived.
Sgt Dennis had only just recovered from being blown up in a vehicle by a roadside bomb.
He suffered a broken leg after being catapulted 30ft in the 2007 blast which killed the British serviceman sat next to him, Drummer Thomas Wright.
Now aged 40 and a married father-of-two, Sgt Dennis has left the army and has decided to sell his CGC for the ‘life changing’ amount of money.
He said: “I am obviously reluctant in many ways to sell my medals.
“However, the amount of money that this sale could realise is potentially life changing for myself and my family.
“As a husband and father, I have to put their welfare first and this has made the decision to auction the medals easier than it might otherwise have been.”
Sgt Dennis served in the 2nd Battalion of the Mercian Regiment and was second in command of a patrol involving Afghan soldiers when they were ambushed by the Taliban in a river valey in Helmand Province in 2009.
Half the man broke into a compound to establish a fire support position but upon realising several Afghan troops were still out in the open Sgt Dennis dashed out twice to help two men to safety.
The citation for his CGC states: “On the third run, he heard a ‘whoosh’ and turned as a rocket propelled grenade exploded three metres in front of him.
“Although the fragmentation missed him, Dennis was hurled through the air by the blast and into a ditch.
"For a few seconds he was unconscious and when he came to his left arm hung uselessly by his side and he was in intense pain.
“Undeterred, Dennis fought on, moving back to the fire support position where he used a radio to send a contact report.”
He refused morphine as that would have dulled his senses or created a burden for his team and instead carried on using his rifle with his right arm.
The citation continues: “Dennis’ fighting spirit when severely wounded was outstanding and inspired others. His example and initiative brought the ANA into the battle which saved the patrol from defeat.”
Before being presented with his CGC at Buckingham Palace in 2010, Prince Charles - the Colonel-in-Chief to the Mercian Regiment - wrote personally to Sgt Dennis.
He wrote: “To say that I am full of admiration for your gallantry, courage and initiative is an understatement.
"You are an immense credit to this country of ours which is, without doubt, more fortunate than it realises in having such dedicated people as yourself serving in our armed forces.”
The letter from Prince Charles is also being sold alongside Sgt Denni’s medals as is an unopened bottle of Highgrove Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky presented to him by the Royal.
Pierce Noonan, of London-auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb, said: “The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross is second only to the Victoria Cross among British combat gallantry awards.
“Just 58 have been awarded to our Armed Forces since the CGC was instituted in 1993 - a period during which our servicemen and women have been almost constantly involved in a series of major conflicts.
“That tells us how special the award is and how astonishingly brave and tenacious Colour Sergeant Dennis was when he won it.”
The sale takes place in London on December 10.
