Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Sergeant W. I. Aird, 3rd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, late Princess of Wales’s Own (Yorkshire Regiment), who was awarded a G.O.C.’s Commendation for his service in Northern Ireland in 1998

General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24754302 Pte W I Aird PWO); Jubilee 2002, unnamed as issued; Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 1994, E.II.R., with 4 Additional Award Bars (24754302 Pte W I Aird R Irish (HS)); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (24754302 Sgt W I Aird R Irish) mounted for wear, generally very fine (4) £1,000-£1,400

G.O.C.’s Commendation, Ops List 10, 6 November 1998 [Northern Ireland].

Wayne Ian Aird was born in Chester in 1966, and enlisted in the Princess of Wales’s Own (Yorkshire Regiment) in 1986. He served with the 1st Battalion, PWO in Ballykinalar the following year, and in West Belfast in 1992 - the latter being a difficult tour where they suffered a number of close range blast and ‘coffee jar’ bomb attacks. During this period the regiment was also engaged in the 24th Air Mobile Brigade.

Aird stated (according the vendor when sold to him) that he broke a limb whilst on SAS Selection, and later transferred to the Royal Irish Regiment. He was serving with the 3rd Battalion at Portadown when he was awarded the G.O.C.’s Commendation - according to Aird (similar to above) the award was for applying life saving first aid to an injured RUC officer. Aird advanced to Sergeant and was awarded his L.S. & G.C. in 2001 (the ACSM was issued to him in 1996 retrospectively for the medal in 1994, 1st clasp in 1997, 2nd clasp in 2000, 3rd clasp in 2003, and 4th clasp in 2006).

Sold with copied research, including photocopies from Soldier Magazine and regimental journals in which the recipient is pictured and featured.