A British sniper platoon commander who took on eight Taliban fighters at once during an Afghan War ambush is selling his bravery medals for £140,000.
Alwyn John Stevens is a Colour Sergeant and he wants to use the money from the sale to start a property company.
He was awarded the medals following a treacherous battle in the Gereshk Val during Operation Herrick 8 on the 12th of September 2008.
He was confronted by insurgents as he approached a mud-walled building, and they bombarded him with small arms fire.
He showed complete disregard for their safety and charged at them while “shooting from the hip”, killing two and injuring another.
Alwyn John Stevens, Colour Sergeant in the Army, has retired last month. He wants to use the money he makes from the sale of medals to start his own property business.
After a treacherous battle in the Gereshk valley with a large enemy force during Operation Herrick 8, on September 12, 2008, he was awarded the medals
His fearlessness caused the remaining insurgents and forced them to retreat, allowing the rest of the team to join him at the compound.
After capturing the position, he led his men to another assault, throwing grenades that ‘overwhelmed the enemy’.
After three hours of intense fighting against 10 positions, they ran out of ammunition. He was able to extricate his men from the danger zone and stayed behind until the end to cover them.
He was awarded the prestigious Conspicuous gallantry Cross for his “extraordinary courage, selflessness, and leadership”.
C/Sgt Stevens, from the Scottish Highlands, is selling his medals, estimated at £120,000 to £140,000, so he can start a property development business
C/Sgt Stevens, Royal Irish Regiment, resigned last month from the army following a distinguished 22 year career during which he toured in Afghanistan, Iraq and Northern Ireland.
The soldier, from the Scottish Highlands, is selling his medals, estimated at £120,000 to £140,000, so he can start a property development business.
C/Sgt Stevens’ Conspicuous Gallantry Cross Citation reads: Stevens pushed ahead with six men in order to secure a compound, from which he could view the area.
“As he approached the compound with its mud-walled walls, he met up with eight Taliban who engaged in heavy small arms fire.
C/Sgt Stevens, Royal Irish Regiment, resigned last month after a 22-year distinguished career that included tours in Afghanistan, Iraq and Sierra Leone.
C/Sgt Stevens, a British outpost in South Atlantic, was born in St Helena. Napoleon was exiled there. He joined the army as a soldier in 1999.
“Instinctively Stevens charged the enemy firing from his hips as he advanced.
“With his initial response, the enemy was killed twice, wounded once, and the rest were forced to flee and hide in a cornfield, 7ft high.
‘…Stevens demonstrated extraordinary courage, selflessness, and leadership. He personally engaged and killed many Taliban Fighters, and created conditions for the defeat a strong enemy force.
C/Sgt Stevens later described his actions as follows: “We came under heavy enemy firing from three different sides and they were moving towards us. So I took a group and pushed out to the flank to engage them before their engagement.
“I found them, shot them three times and called airstrikes on the positions.
His medal group includes the Conspicuous Galantry Cross; Northern Ireland and Sierra Leone; Iraq, Afghanistan; Diamond Jubilee. Accumulated Campaign Service Medal; Army Long Service Good Conduct Medal
He was a qualified sniper in 2006. He became a commander of sniper platoons in 2014. This role was continued until his recent discharge.
He was awarded the prestigious Conspicuous gallantry Cross for his “extraordinary courage, selflessness, and leadership”.
Medals awarded to Colour Sergeant Alwyn John Stevens
Colour Sergeant Alwyn John Stevens’ medals
Alwyn John Stevens, Colour Sergeant in Colour, was awarded the prestigious Conspicuous gallantry Cross for his extraordinary courage. selflessness and leadership’.
His medal group is made up of:
- The Conspicuous Gallantry Croix;
- Northern Ireland
- Sierra Leone;
- Iraq
- Afghanistan
- Diamond Jubilee
- Accumulated Campaign Service Medal
- Army Long Service Good Conduct Medal.
“When you find yourself in such a situation, the training kicks in and then you can just deal with it and forget everything else. You don’t have the time to think. It’s more of a reaction than a thought. But if I hadn’t done what you did, I probably wouldn’t be here today.
“When it comes down to a fire-fight, you just need to take control. Remember that you have your men to deal. You don’t need to doubt it. Just get on with it. You can’t doubt yourself.’
C/Sgt Stevens, a British outpost in South Atlantic where Napoleon was exiled was born in St Helena. He joined the army as a soldier in 1999.
In 2006, he became a sniper and in 2014 he was promoted to sniper platoon leader. This role lasted until his recent discharge.
His medal group includes the Conspicuous gallantry Cross, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Iraq; Afghanistan; Diamond Jubilee and Accumulated Campaign Service Medal. The Army Long Service Good Conduct Medal is also included.
Adam Chapman, a medal specialist at Duke’s Auctioneers, Dorchester (Dorset), which is selling the medals said: ‘What Colour Sergeant Stevens done that day was astonishingly courageous.
After meeting them unexpectedly in a compound, he began to engage eight enemy combatants.
Stevens and his men fought for three additional hours. Stevens personally called dangerously close airstrikes into the fight to target the enemy.
“The patrol withdrew only when they ran out of ammunition; he organized the withdrawal and stayed behind in order to cover it.
“It is a privilege to be involved with the sale; in terms number of awards, the CGC’s rarer than the Victoria Cross.
The Tank Museum, Bovington, Dorset will host the sale on November 6.