NOONANS to sell rare iraq conspicuous gallantry cross GIVEN FOR GREAT GALLANTRY AND BRAVERY UNDER FIRE -only ONE TO HAVE EVER BEEN AWARDED to a member of R.E.M.E (royal Electrical and mechanical engineers) -

Corporal Adam Miller of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (R.E.M.E) was performing his job on May 21, 2007, when he went to help a civilian low-loader carrying high-profile military vehicles that had been severely damaged during an ambush involving over 100 insurgents in Basra, Iraq. Over the course of nearly 2 hours, much of that time under constant heavy enemy machine gun and rocket propelled grenade fire, he worked on the recovery, ‘displaying icy nerve, professional dedication, and almost suicidal courage in an impossible situation’. As a result of his gallantry, he was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross which will be offered by Noonans in a sale of Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Part of a group of six medals, they are estimated to fetch £100,000-140,000. To date a total of 60 Conspicuous Gallantry Crosses have been awarded. Miller’s award is unique to R.E.M.E, and as no member of the R.E.M.E. has been awarded either the Victoria Cross or the George Cross, he is therefore the Corps’ highest-decorated soldier

The official citation states: “The loss of military vehicles in the centre of Basra would have allowed the militias to claim a significant victory - the decision was taken to fight to recover the vehicles.”

“Whilst this contact was going on, Corporal Miller, a recovery mechanic, was on standby in Basra Palace. The complexity and nature of the breakdown meant that the Foden (an unprotected soft-skin wheeled recovery truck) was the only recovery asset capable of performing the task, so Corporal Miller and Lance-Corporal Burn (the Foden driver) were tasked to the scene. They were escorted 3 miles to the breakdown site by a platoon from R Company. By the time they arrived, the platoon at the bridge were engaged in an intense gun battle with about 75 militia engaging from 15-20 firing points, on roofs, alleyways, cars and from the Iraqi Police Station at rages of 50 to 200 metres and in a 360° radius…. Corporal Miller carefully reversed the Foden up to the disabled low-loader and then without hesitation dismounted.”
It continued: “The soldiers, fighting for their lives from under armour, watched in fear of Corporal Miller’s life, as he ran forward 50 metres across the exposed bridge, in complete view of the enemy to begin his assessment. For the next 45 minutes, with only one single Bulldog to provide a shield at the site…he worked on the recovery, attempting first to bleed the brakes; then to unhook the tractor unit; and then to cut the securing chains for the Saxon and Land Rover. He repeatedly ran back to the company commander’s Bulldog to report on his progress. Throughout this period, he was under continuous and heavy fire with bullets striking the road, bridge railings and vehicle he was working on, often only inches from him. The militia then resorted to firing RPGs to attempt to destroy the low-loader and its high-profile military cargo. Over 15 minutes, five RPGs (rocket propelled grenades) detonated on the vehicle, no more than a few feet from Corporal Miller as he worked.”

Adam William Miller, who grew up in Calne in Wiltshire, joined the Corps of R.E.M.E on 28 June 1998 at the age of 17 ½ years. He served with the R.E.M.E. extensively in Germany, Canada, and the UK, and was deployed on operations to both Kosovo and Iraq.

Miller later recalled: “At the time, I was completely unaware of the severity of the situation, my sole focus was to extract the casualty vehicle to a place of safety, it was only afterwards that I realised how dangerous the situation had actually been.”

Now 42 years old, he is selling the medals because: “Being given the C.G.C was pretty surreal, and I am so proud that I am still the only member of R.E.M.E to have been awarded this. As there are no major conflicts now, I can’t see that any more will be presented soon. I know that several people pass medals down their families, but I have decided to sell them now, so that my son, who is 10 years old can benefit from the proceeds. It can help him with his education or buying a house.”

Miller was invested with his Conspicuous Gallantry Cross by H.M. Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on 4 June 2008, and in December of that year was further honoured by the Corps of R.E.M.E with the opening of “Miller’s Bar” at 6 Close Support Battalion’s Tidworth base. He was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal in September 2013, and having been advanced Warrant Officer Class II, was discharged in January 2023, after 24 years’ exemplary service.

As Christopher Mellor-Hill, Head of Client Liaison at Noonans explained: “Adam Miller was awarded the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross for his gallantry under heavy enemy fire in Basra, on the first day of his Battle-group’s tour of the city. After dodging bullets and rocket propelled grenades for two hours in trying to move the low-loader truck that was blocking a key bridge over the canal.”

“The Conspicuous Gallantry Cross was instituted in 1993 following the review of the British Honours System and is awarded ‘in recognition of an act or acts of conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy and his gallantry award ranks second only to the Victoria Cross for gallantry in the face of the enemy.”
Full Cataloguing available.