Medals awarded to youngest recipient of Military Cross since WW2 sold at auction
Private Alex Kennedy was awarded the Military Cross for bravery in Afghanistan when he was just 18 - making him the youngest person to receive the medal since the Second World War.
The Mercian Regiment soldier earned the award for conspicuous gallantry under fire - but it has now been sold at auction.
The Military Cross, his other medals and personal items from the battlefield were sold by Aubreys for £26,000.
Pte Kennedy saved an injured officer's life while serving in Helmand Province in Afghanistan in June 2009.
He had only been in the Army for six months, when he was the point man in a patrol which was ambushed and pinned down on three sides by gunfire from Taliban fighters.
The platoon commander, Captain Andy Bell, who had been patrolling behind him, was shot in the legs and badly wounded.
Pte Kennedy was also struck - his light machine gun was hit, shattering the weapon’s handle and sending shrapnel ricocheting into his helmet and goggles, temporarily blinding and deafening him.
Despite this, he was able to crawl back to his wounded commander, give life-saving first aid and organise other soldiers to return fire.
He then took over radio communications and directed nearby armoured vehicles to provide cover so the rest of the patrol could move in to help.
He also continued to fight, buying enough time for his commander to be safely extracted and his section to move to cover.
Ferocious small arms fire
Pte Kennedy was awarded the Military Cross in March 2010 and the MOD said of the incident at the time: "The Military Cross was also awarded to Private Alexander Kennedy of Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, who was involved in his company’s deliberate operation to clear an area of Garmsir.
"His multiple suddenly came under ferocious small arms fire and a fellow soldier was caught in the first burst and dropped to the floor, shot through the legs. Private Kennedy immediately crawled to the injured man and administered first aid.
"Taking control of the rest of the section, Private Kennedy directed their fire and ensured that they were engaging the enemy positions.
"This suppressed the enemy, allowed the casualty to be extracted, and the rest of the multiple to move into cover.
"This is all the more impressive from a private soldier with six months’ experience in the Army. He acted with a level of leadership and situational awareness far above that expected of a private soldier, demonstrating selfless bravery and a cool head under fire."
The lot offered at Aubreys included:
:: The Military Cross, officially named to Pte AR Kennedy Mercian 30023043 2010
:: The Operational Service Medal for Afghanistan, with clasp
:: The Nato Medal with ISAF clasp
:: Pte Kennedy's battle-damaged helmet, still bearing the shrapnel damage from the bullet that struck his light machine gun
:: His shoulder patch
:: A selection of letters, photographs and memorabilia including letters of congratulation from senior British military leaders, including General Sir Peter Wall
:: Photographs of Pte Kennedy in Afghanistan and at the investiture of his medal
:: Newspaper articles, original paperwork, and a copy of Hansard recording his recognition in Parliament
2 Mercian served in Helmand, Afghanistan, for six months from April to October 2009 under the command of 19 Light Brigade.
It was the second time the Battalion had served in Afghanistan since 2006, having also served under its previous title, 1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment, in the summer of 2007.
The Military Cross
The Military Cross is an operational gallantry award given to all ranks of the services in recognition of exemplary gallantry during active operations against the enemy on land.
Personnel who perform a further act of such gallantry which would have merited a second MC are issued with a silver bar ornamented by the crown.
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