b. 01/08/1974 Auckland, New Zealand.
DATE OF CGC ACTION: 2001-2002 Operation Trent, Afghanistan.
Edward L Sanders CGC
Ed Sanders was born in West Auckland, New Zealand in 1974. His father was also called Edward. He enlisted on 1 July 1992, aged 18 in the New Zealand Army with the service number J994091. Between 1992-1995 he served as UN Peacekeeper in the former Yugoslavia and later Bosnia. He later transferred into the NZ SAS, before later joining the British Army, as part of 22nd SAS Regiment.
In November 2001, two Squadrons from the 22 S.A.S. Regiment deployed to Afghanistan where they were assigned the mission of securing a factory in the South-West of the country. Codenamed Operation Trent, the mission became a milestone in S.A.S. history, with it not only featuring the first HALO insertion into hostile territory by the the Regiment, but it was also the largest operation to be conducted by the S.A.S. since 1945, involving some 120 operators.
During the operation, Ed Sanders performed the action which led to the award of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, second only to Victoria Cross, for gallantry.
Sanders later left the military, and has held the position of Chief of Staff with Rolls Royce.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: WITH RECIPIENT.
