b. 1981 Galoa, Serua, Fiji.
DATE OF CGC ACTION: 2009 Afghanistan.
Jone B Toge CGC
Cpl Toge, originally from Fiji, was serving with the Royal Irish Regiment when he took over the leadership of an eight-man team working with the Afghan National Army to suppress the Taliban.
His citation states: “Repeatedly, Toge exposed himself to fire, disregarding his own safety. His gallant and inspirational leadership had every man following him.”
At one point, Cpl Toge was blasted off his feet, under fire from rocket-propelled grenades. However, he got up and administered first aid to colleagues. The attack ended with at least two Taliban killed and five wounded, while the rest fled.
Cpl Toge said: “I didn’t think about medals – I just thought it was another fight. That’s what we do.” On leaving the Army, he became a railway worker. In March 2015, he decided to auction his medal at Charterhouse Auctioneers, in order to raise some funds for starting a new business venture. The estimate for the medal was £70,000.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: SOLD AT AUCTION IN MARCH 2015.
