Orders, Decorations and Medals Including five Special Collections

A rare Northern Ireland Q.G.M. and B.E.M. group of four awarded to Staff Sergeant Michael ‘Ray’ Glazer, 14 Intelligence Company, Special Air Service and Royal Artillery

Queen’s Gallantry Medal, E.II.R. (24262662 Bdr. Michael R. Glazer, R.A.); British Empire Medal (Military) E.II.R. (24262662 Sgt. Michael R. Glazer, QGM, SAS); General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24262662 Gnr., R.A.) the edge also marked ‘R’ for replacement; Accumulated Campaign Service Medal, with bar (24262662 Sgt., QGM RA) mounted court style as worn, together with Royal Mint cases of issue for the first two, S.A.S. beret, wings and epaulettes, and numerous documents, nearly extremely fine (4) £12000-15000

Q.G.M. London Gazette 1 July 1980: ‘For services in Northern Ireland.’

B.E.M. London Gazette 12 April 1983: ‘For services in Northern Ireland.’ The accompanying ‘investiture’ citation states: ‘Sgt M R Glazer, Special Air Service. Sergeant Glazer is nearing the end of his second two year tour on Special Duties in West Belfast, Northern Ireland. It has been a tour in which he has been in constant unremitting danger. He is very brave and thoroughly steady and has the full trust and respect of his fellow operators. His ability to move unobtrusively, to accurately observe and report, and his deep understanding of the terrorist has set this splendid senior Non Commissioned Officer apart from, and made him an inspiration to, his fellows. He deserves very special recognition. Full citation graded SECRET.’

The secret and highly sensitive nature of the operations undertaken by Ray Glazer in Northern Ireland precludes publication of further information concerning these awards. Ray will be happy to communicate with the successful purchaser of his medals.

Michael Raymond Glazer was born on 9 July 1950, and enlisted for the Royal Artillery at Birmingham on 28 September 1971. In the course of the next six years he completed three tours of duty in Northern Ireland, as well as tours in Germany, Cyprus, and Canada. It was whilst he was on a tour in Germany that his G.S.M. for Northern Ireland was either lost or stolen and he was subsequently issued with a replacement medal. In 1977 he underwent selection for 14 Intelligence Company. Of three hundred that began the six-month selection course, only six went on to do operational duties in Northern Ireland. As an Operator with the Belfast Detachment of 14 Int Co, Ray Glazer was involved in the running of dangerous and highly sensitive operations against subversive organisations, often working alone and without support, to observe and report, and took part in many operations culminating in executive action being taken, or alternatively taking part in long term operations against the Quartermaster Network of those organisations.

From 1979 to 1981 he was part of the Training Team of 14 Int Co at the Depot, in the rank of Sergeant, being involved in the selection and training of Operators in fitness, map reading, photography, mobile and foot surveillance, rural and urban observation positions, weapons training and Close Quarter Battle situation awareness, and close protection.

In 1981 he returned to Northern Ireland for a second tour of duty with the Belfast Detachment of 14 Int Co, this time as a Team Leader in the rank of Staff Sergeant, involved in the running of numerous covert operations for the police and military, and also in source protection and handling. From 1983 to 1985 he was commanding a Team of specialist technicians in Northern Ireland, whose duties included the covert deployment of technical equipment against subversive organisations in support of police and military operations with the aim of recovering weapons and explosives, and facilitating arrests. He was responsible during this period for sensitive and secret equipment, and the operational and administrative running of the unit on a daily basis, often giving briefings at the highest levels of command.

Ray Glazer was discharged from the Special Air Service at his own request on 9 December 1985. As a fully qualified CQB (SAS) Instructor in the use of all types of domestic and foreign weapons, and being highly trained in the use of covert photography and video, methods of entry and methods of instruction, Ray Glazer has since led a highly successful civilian career as a Team Leader on numerous large scale corporate surveillance operations, and as a contracted surveillance instructor to a government.

The group is accompanied by the following original documents: Regular Army Certificate of Service; Buckingham Palace letter for award of the Q.G.M., named ‘Sergeant Michael Raymond Glazer, Q.G.M., B.E.M., Special Air Service’; named investiture letter for the Q.G.M., dated 17 September 1980; ‘Investiture’ citation for the B.E.M., as quoted above; and 16 letters of congratulation, including ones from Director Special Air Service and Special Air Service Group, Intelligence and Security Group (Northern Ireland), RHQ The Parachute Regiment, etc., and up to date Curriculum Vitae.