Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Northern Ireland Q.G.M. group of three awarded to Staff Sergeant H. A. F. McCutcheon, The Black Watch

Queen’s Gallantry Medal (23728992 Sgt. Henry A. F. McCutcheon, B.W.); U.N. Medal for Cyprus; General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (23728992 S. Sgt. H. A. F. McCutcheon BW.) the first with official correction to first four digits of regimental number, otherwise good very fine (3) £5,000-£6,000

Q.G.M. London Gazette 25 March 1975: In recognition of outstanding bravery in Northern Ireland during the period 1st August 1974 to 31st October 1974 - Sergeant (acting Staff Sergeant) Henry Alexander Fairley McCutcheon, The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment).’

The following report regarding the incident for which McCutcheon almost certainly received his Q.G.M. is extracted from the journal of the Black Watch, The Red Hackle, No 181, of December 1974:

‘The story of one gentleman’s kneecap goes like this. It was a hot summer afternoon and a 20 platoon multiple patrol commanded by Csgt McCutcheon was searching a house in Glen Road. A group of young men including Paddy McIlhone was drinking on the steps of the Glenowen Inn. The Company Commander reported their presence over the radio and continued patrolling the area. A mobile patrol from the mortar platoon was carrying out a vehicle control point in the Falls Road.

Suddenly the sound of two shots followed by three more in quick succession broke the silence - Paddy McIlhone had been shot twice in the leg and the fleeing gunman had fired three more shots at a crowd of youths who gave chase. Csgt McCutcheon immediately raced to the Glenowan and reported the gunman escaping in a white car with a peppermint green stripe down the side. There then followed an exciting chase after the car into Turf Lodge with the Mortar Platoon taking the eastern approach so sealing the escape route to the north and the Company Commander hot on the trail of the speeding car and channelling it through the narrow streets into the Mortar Platoon trap. Alas the occupants of the car debussed into the crowded streets and disappeared into the warren of flats. The villains had slipped through our fingers by a hair’s breadth. This was just one of the many instances of inter-factional banditry between the Official and Provisional I.R.A.’

The Red Hackle, No 180, of August 1974, reports the setting up of an additional Platoon within Support Company: ‘An additional platoon, Twenty Platoon under Csgt McCutcheon was also formed. Csgt McCutcheon joined the Company having finished his tour of duty as Battalion Provost Sergeant.’