An Iraq War hero is selling his £140,000 gallantry medal so he can get on the property ladder.
Warrant Officer Shaun Jardine, 39, was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for risking his life in 2003 by single-handedly storming two enemy positions.
At the time, as a 21-year-old corporal, he found himself pinned down during a patrol near Al Uzayr security base in Maysan Province.
He killed two adversaries and forced another to flee.
Joined by reinforcements, he forced the enemy to pull out from a third spot.
His team escaped without any casualties and he received the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal, second only to the Victoria Cross.
Shaun left the army earlier this year and is selling his medals with London-based auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb. His collection is expected to fetch between £120,000 and £140,000 and he hopes to buy to a house for his family with the proceeds.
Recalling the action, Shaun said: “I saw their fingers on triggers, then the muzzle flashes and I could hear rounds zipping past.
“I fired one round, quickly moved on to the second, and fired again. Both guys were instantly dead.”
From Dumfries in Scotland, he joined the King’s Own Scottish Borderers aged 16 and was later an infantry instructor.
He also served with the Highlanders, 4th Battalion of the Royal Regiment in Scotland.
His last role was at Glasgow & Strathclyde Universities’ Officer Training Corps.
Christopher Mellor-Hill, of Dix Noonan Webb, said the CGC was awarded for the first time after the Bosnian War in 1995.
He added: “The award to Jardine is unique to the King’s Own Scottish Borderers and is the only CGC to have been awarded to any Scottish Regiment.”
The sale also includes his Operational Service Medal 2000, Jubilee 2012, Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 1994, and Army Medal. It takes place on July 21.
