SUPERB ‘AFGHANISTAN 2010’ BOMB HUNTER’S MILITARY CROSS TO BE OFFERED AT NOONANS IN DECEMBER

The superb ‘Afghanistan 2010’ bomb hunter’s Military Cross group of eight awarded to Captain, late Warrant Officer Class I, Gareth ‘Woody’ Wood of the 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, part of the Royal Logistics Corps is expected to fetch £20,000-30,000 at Noonans Mayfair (16 Bolton Street) in an auction of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria  on Wednesday, December 3, 2025.

Described as a specialist in every sense of the word, Wood served as an Ammunition Technical Officer in Nad e-Ali, Afghanistan over a six-month tour – during which he defused more than 50 bombs and was blown up on four occasions. Wood applied his unique skill set in ‘Helmand province, the largest in Afghanistan ... without doubt currently the most dangerous place on the planet. One of his best friends, Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid, was killed in Helmand ... Going in to defuse the bomb.

On 30 March 2010, 28-year-old Wood and his team were flown in to rescue troops of the 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh, whose two Mastiffs had become trapped in an improvised Taliban minefield north of Nad-e’Ali district. They were under fire, and Wood only had 4 hours of daylight remaining to clear any IEDS. With automatic fire ‘raining down on him, Woody insisted the others took cover while he defused the first device. While wrenching the second from the ground, the bones in the first two fingers of Woody’s right hand snapped like dry twigs and his palm was sliced open. In considerable pain, and using just his left hand, Woody neutralised a further three devices in 20 minutes, enabling the stricken crew to extricate themselves safely under the cover of darkness through the path he single-handedly engineered.

As Mark Quayle, Medal Specialist and Associate Director of Noonans commented: “Nerves of steel” has become an overused phrase - but never was it more applicable than in the case of Captain G. D. ‘Woody’ Wood, 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment. With countless bombs defused - ‘Woody’ undertook ’the lonely walk’ in Afghanistan, regardless of how many times he was blown up, and always conscious of those who had gone before him and not been so fortunate.’

Mr Wood, who is from Stoke-on-Trent explains the reason for the sale. He said: “My daughters have recently reached adulthood, and a conversation was had as to what to do with my medals. As I do not wear the originals and they are twins, it was decided that selling was the best option. They decided that they would benefit more by selling and investing the money to help them with their step onto the property ladder or see them through university.”

Wood advanced to Warrant Officer Class I, and was subsequently commissioned, advancing to Captain in June 2019. Captain Wood retired in February 2024. The medals are being sold with a selection of contemporary documents ranging from letters to newspaper articles and invitations.