b, 1973 Nottingham.
DATE OF CGC ACTION: 2009 Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Alan G Dennis CGC
Alan Dennis was born in Nottingham in 1973. Little is known about his early life before enlisting in the British Army in 1994 in The Mercian Regiment. In 2007, Alan suffered a broken leg after he was catapulted 30ft in the 2007 blast which killed the British serviceman sat next to him, Drummer Thomas Wright.
Sgt Dennis, who spent 20 years in the Army, served with the 2nd Battalion of the Mercian Regiment and was second in command of a patrol involving soldiers from the Afghan National Army when they were ambushed by the Taliban in a river valley in Helmand Province in 2009.
Half the men broke into a nearby compound to establish a fire support position but upon doing so realised that several of the Afghan troops were still out in the open. Sgt Dennis dashed out twice to help two men to safety.
The citation for his CGC states: ‘On the third run, he heard a ‘whoosh’ and turned as a rocket propelled grenade exploded three metres in front of him. Although the fragmentation missed him, Dennis was hurled through the air by the blast and into a ditch. For a few seconds he was unconscious and when he came to his left arm hung uselessly by his side and he was in intense pain. Undeterred, Dennis fought on, moving back to the fire support position where he used a radio to send a contact report.’
He refused morphine as he said it would have dulled his senses or created a burden for his team and instead carried on using his rifle with his right arm.
The citation continues: ‘Dennis’ fighting spirit when severely wounded was outstanding and inspired others. His example and initiative brought the ANA into the battle which saved the patrol from defeat.’
Before being presented with his CGC at Buckingham Palace in 2010, Prince Charles – the Colonel-in-Chief to the Mercian Regiment – wrote personally to Sgt Dennis.
He wrote: ‘To say that I am full of admiration for your gallantry, courage and initiative is an understatement. You are an immense credit to this country of ours which is, without doubt, more fortunate than it realises in having such dedicated people as yourself serving in our armed forces.’
It took over five years for Sgt Dennis to recover from the physical and psychological scars he suffered in the ambush attack. He left the army in September 2014 and soon after made the tough decision to sell his medal group for the sake of his family’s future. As a married man with two young children at the time, he chose to financially support his family. The medal group was sold at Noonans in Mayfair in December 2014, reaching a hammer price of £110,000.
Alan Dennis now lives in Derbyshire and works as a Stores Manager for Formula E Holdings.
CGC CITATION:
On the third run, he heard a ‘whoosh’ and turned as a Rocket Propelled Grenade exploded three metres in front of him. Although the fragmentation missed him, Dennis was hurled through the air by the blast and into a ditch. For a few seconds he was unconscious and when he came to his left arm hung uselessly by his side and he was in intense pain. Undeterred, Dennis fought on, moving back to the fire support position where he used a radio to send a contact report.”
As the fighting continued, Dennis fired his rifle with his one good arm and was the last to leave the position. He refused morphine so as not to dull his senses or create a burden for his team, and back at base turned down treatment until all the soldiers from the patrol were safely inside. The citation continues: “Dennis’s fighting spirit when severely wounded was outstanding and inspired others. His example and initiative brought the ANA into the battle which saved the patrol from defeat. He was calm and collected under intense fire, displaying cool courage.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: PRIVATELY HELD.
