b. 1972 Derby.
DATE OF CGC ACTION: 09/08/2004 Basra, Iraq.
Terry Bryan CGC
Terry Bryan was born in Derby in 1972, but his family soon moved to Nottingham where he spent the remainder of his childhood. His early career aspirations were to become a chef, but at the age of 16, he began to consider a career in the Army. He initially thought about the Catering Corps but when he arrived at the Recruitment Office, the man who enlisted him was a member of the Royal Artillery, and he convinced Terry to join the RA. Terry’s life would change when he arrived in Basra, Iraq in April 2004, as part of Operation TELIC 4, and it would be four months later that he would perform
On August 9, 2004, Terry who now held the rank of Sergeant, was acting as a troop commander in charge of two vehicles, when he went on patrol in Basra to help soldiers cut off from their own camp and under heavy attack. Terry was quoted when interviewed after the announcement of his CGC as saying “We left the camp and the streets were quiet, and that in itself was suspicious. I was just thinking about the job in hand when we found the road blocked off. It was an ambush.”
After finally moving into a side street to take cover, the enemy was waiting for Sgt Bryan and his men, and the patrol’s two vehicles became useless after coming under constant attack. Bryan and the patrol decided to proceed on foot and, with their radios out of action, had to use a mobile phone to call for back-up. “We had to keep moving because the militia were constantly behind us and firing at us. I scouted ahead and could see them flanking us, so I took over a house and established fire positions, putting the family in the cellar,” he said.
The troops stayed inside the house and stopped the enemy from coming in until the Warrior armoured vehicle from the Princess of Wales regiment fought to get them out. Eight men owed their lives to Sgt Bryan after he successfully ran in full view of enemy fire to signal to the vehicle to come and rescue them.
An MoD spokesman said: “The quite exceptional leadership, professionalism and bravery of Sgt Bryan stood out that day. He demonstrated outstanding skill and personal qualities and held his men together as they fought for their lives.” Terry’s citation for the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross strongly stated why he was awarded such a prestigious honour. “They were ambushed by overwhelming numbers and firepower. They were in contact for the best part of two hours and engaged in a hard-fought, dirty, close-quarter battle that all but expended their ammunition and sapped their physical and emotional strength; memories of the massacre of an RMP patrol in Maysan Province came flooding back. The quite exceptional leadership, professionalism, and individual bravery of Bryan stood out that day. He is a quiet man, a communications specialist by trade but, in a particularly dangerous and dynamic situation, he demonstrated outstanding skill and personal qualities. He held his men together as they fought for their lives. In doing so, significant damage was inflicted upon a determined enemy and his patrol maintained their defences until assistance arrived. He is also a modest man, but eight others owe him their lives and his gallantry and leadership speak for themselves.”
Like so many who served in Iraq and indeed, Afghanistan, Terry struggled on his return home from the tour of duty. He struggled with PTSD, and the announcement of his CGC made him realise the enormity of what he had done. Terry has gone on record stating he feels guilty about the medal, as no one else in his patrol got the recognition, and he felt they should have. Terry eventually left the Army and works as a Technical Product Lead for Brigantes in the South West of England. He is married with three children.
CGC CITATION:
18th March 2005
The Queen has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards for gallant and distinguished services in Iraq during the period 1st April to 30th September 2004
CGC
24783240 Sergeant Christopher Mark Broome, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment.
24884304 Sergeant Terry Bryan, Royal Regiment of Artillery.
25046691 Corporal Terence Alan Thomson, The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: WITH RECIPIENT.
