b. 1978, Llantwit Fadre, Pontypridd, Wales.
DATE OF CGC ACTION: 30/03/2003 Abu-al-Khasib, Basra, Iraq.
Justin R Thomas CGC
Thomas joined the Royal Marines on 12 February 1998. He successfully completed 30 weeks Royal Marines Recruit training, culminating in the Commando course which he successfully passed. The training syllabus engenders team spirit, a sense of self-reliance and teaches a wide range of military and survival skills.
Immediately after initial training he joined the Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines and served here from November 1999 to January 2001. Initially he was involved in the operational boarding of vessels used to smuggle terrorist arms into Northern Ireland.
In January 2001, Lance Corporal Thomas joined 40 Commando, Royal Marines and became a section commander; a responsible appointment and a tribute to his conscientious nature. Once established, he assisted his troop commander with building a cohesive machine gun section in order to deploy on the Amphibious Ready Group. He was then tasked to deploy as part of the first coalition troops entering Afghanistan on Operation Oracle and Veritas. After a short period of time back in the UK he returned to Afghanistan for an additional three months between March and May 2002. This operation required Lance Corporal Thomas and his gun line to support coalition forces in the stabilisation of Kabul.
During the war in Iraq, Lance Corporal Thomas delivered a phenomenal performance. The Manoeuvre Support Group, within which he was deployed, was deeply involved in several ferocious encounters with the enemy. His dogged determination and courage under fire inspired all those around him, again proving his maturity, sense of duty and ability to use the skills he has been taught. After the cessation of hostilities Lance Corporal Thomas was a key player in the ensuing Peace Support Operations, where his calming approach assisted in helping to consolidate the progress made with the local population. The experience gained over this period was put into practise when instructing the younger members of the Troop all of whom became as professional and assured as their mentor.
On 30 March [2003], a Commando attack was mounted against an enemy in battalion strength in the Abu-al-Khasib area near Basrah. Lance Corporal Thomas’ troop was tasked with securing a key junction on the vulnerable western flank. After initially good progress, it was just after first light when they were ambushed in the open by continual volleys of RPG and small arms fire from a well disguised enemy position in the cover of date palms some 250 metres away. This initial contact lasted three hours during which the troop managed to extract safely to a reorganisation location ready to meet and brief reinforcements from 42 Commando.
At this critical juncture in the battle, the assembled troops came under sustained and effective RPG and small arms fire from a new undetected location of 15-20 enemy troops some 350 metres away. Realising that many of his comrades were now exposed, Lance Corporal Thomas ran from his position of comparative safety and climbed onto his open top vehicle to man a pintle-mounted GPMG. With his No.2 feeding ammunition and with no protection afforded by the vehicle, Lance Corporal Thomas single handedly returned a heavy weight of sustained fire for a continuous period of nearly 15 minutes to enable 20 other members of his troop to safely move into cover and to regroup. As small arms and RPG’s landed all around him, his determination to suppress the enemy did not waiver, nor did his courage in the face of considerable threat to his own life. This singular act of selfless bravery ensured that his troop were able to extract safely from effective enemy fire without loss in order to launch a successful counter attack. Had casualties been taken, the progress on the Commando’s western flank would have been slowed and potentially placed the remainder of the Unit in a vulnerable position. Lance Corporal Thomas’ section had a further three contacts that day as they set about achieving their mission, yet his leadership and personal example were never found wanting.
Lance Corporal Thomas’ extreme bravery in the face of a well-armed and determined enemy undoubtedly saved numerous lives that day and was fundamental to mission success. Throughout a demanding sequence of operations, his section’s performance has been invariably impressive, due largely to his natural command presence. Categorically, his exceptional courage and inspirational leadership under effective enemy fire deserve lasting public recognition.
Thomas left the Marines in 2004, and in 2009, he made the difficult decision to sell his medal group at Noonans, Mayfair, in order to raise a deposit for a house. He had a wife and a young daughter at the time. The auction saw a hammer price of £88,000.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: PRIVATELY HELD.
