Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry

‘I went back to join 12 Platoon to find that Sergeant Meredith by this stage had got the situation firmly under control. His platoon was busily knocking s--t out of the Flagpole Position with 66 rocket launchers and machine guns.’

‘Meredith, of course, held it all together and made sure the platoon continued to work together - a really solid number, hard as nails and with the ability to think. He never appeared fussed, which is what I think really helped at this time, at least for his blokes.’
(Major Philip Neame’s account of the action at Goose Green published in Above All, Courage by Max Arthur, refers)


The important and superb Falklands War ‘Goose Green’ and ‘Wireless Ridge’ D.C.M. group of nine awarded to Platoon Sergeant, later Major, J. C. Meredith, 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, who in 1982, after completing his eighth tour in Northern Ireland, was embarked with his battalion for the Falkland Islands where he displayed conspicuous gallantry and inspiring leadership during both of their battles.

At Goose Green on the night of 28-29 May 1982, following the loss of the battalion’s forceful and charismatic leader, Lieutenant-Colonel ‘H’ Jones V.C., at Darwin Hill, he continued to work his way down the isthmus with 12 Platoon, D Company, clearing a series of Argentine trenches, thus enabling the continuation of the assault on the Boca House position, which was soon to capitulate under concentrated Milan anti-tank and small arms fire.

Then, closing in on the Schoolhouse and Airfield, he witnessed the infamous white flag incident at the ‘flagpole position’, in which his platoon commander and two more men were killed under confused circumstances. Immediately assuming command of the platoon, he organised and executed a deadly and highly effective retaliatory attack with belt-fed machine gun fire and 66mm rockets, saving the lives of five more men of his platoon.

On 14-15 June at Wireless Ridge, when tasked with leading the attack to roll up the Argentinian flank along the main ridge line, D Company were engaged in three separate attacks against co-ordinated resistance during the one night. With 12 Platoon furthest forward on the ridge, and dangerously exposed, Meredith assisted his Platoon Commander in leading the men forward in the face of heavy machine-gun and artillery fire. His outstanding skill and gallantry throughout the campaign were in the very highest tradition of the Parachute Regiment

Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (24103698 Sgt J C Meredith Para) with Royal Mint case of issue; General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24103698 Pte. J. C. Meredith Para.); South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (24103698 Sgt J C Meredith Para); Iraq 2003-11, no clasp (Capt J C Meredith DCM Para); Operational Service Medal 2000, for Afghanistan, 1 clasp, Afghanistan (Capt J C Meredith DCM Para); Jubilee 2002; Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 1994 (Capt J C Meredith DCM Para); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (24103698 Sgt J C Meredith Para); Volunteer Reserves Service Medal, E.II.R. (Maj J C Meredith DCM Para 542907) mounted court-style as worn; together with the recipient’s four identity tags, two inscribed with his other ranks’ service number, and two inscribed with his officer’s service number, nearly extremely fine (9) £100,000-£120,000

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D.C.M. London Gazette 11 October 1982.

The following is extracted from the original recommendation for the award of a D.C.M. submitted by Lt Col D. R. Chaundler, Officer Commanding, 2 Para, which is additionally endorsed ‘Very strongly recommended’ by Brigadier J. H. A. Thompson, Major General J. J. Moore and Lieutenant General Sir Richard Trant:
‘Sergeant Meredith was a Platoon Sergeant in D Company 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment during the twenty four days of the Falkland Islands campaign. He was a dedicated and devoted leader, encouraging and steadying the younger soldiers under fire and inspiring the Platoon by his personal example. In the battle for Port Darwin and Goose Green on 28th/29th May 1982, during the later stages of a long and demanding day, his Platoon Commander was killed while advancing on an enemy position which it was assumed had surrendered. Five men, including one wounded, survived in the Platoon Commander's party but were in a perilous and exposed position.
With conspicuous gallantry and presence of mind, Sergeant Meredith rapidly assumed command of the Platoon, organised covering fire for the trapped men and stabilised the situation. He then personally took a machine gun and moved forward under heavy enemy fire to where he could neutralise the remainder of the enemy and give directions to extricate the trapped men. There is no doubt that these five men owe their lives to Sergeant Meredith’s prompt and gallant action. Subsequently the Platoon under his direction captured the enemy position.
Later in the campaign, with a new and inexperienced Platoon Commander, he again showed conspicuous bravery, professionalism and leadership at the battle for Wireless Ridge on the night of 13th/14th June 1982. At a critical moment, when the Platoon's assault on this 1000 metre long ridge looked as if it might flounder, he moved forward to assist his Platoon Commander in leading the Platoon forward in the face of heavy machine gun fire. These two incidents typify Sergeant Meredith's outstanding skill and gallantry throughout the campaign which were in the very highest tradition of the Parachute Regiment.’

Just eight D.C.M.s awarded for the Falklands War, five of which were to men of the Parachute Regiment, three of these to 2 Para, all for Goose Green, of which just one, that awarded to Platoon Sergeant John Meredith, D Company, also reflects conspicuous gallantry at the final decisive night attack on Wireless Ridge.

John Clifford Meredith was born in 1950 at Bangor, Wales. He joined the British Army in March 1967 and attended selection for the Parachute Regiment, completing his recruit training at Aldershot and initial jumps training at R.A.F. Abingdon. Gaining his wings he was assigned to 2 Para and in 1968 completed a tour of Denmark, 2 months training in the Malayan jungle and a 4 Month tour of Hong Kong. He was deployed to Anguilla for Operation Sheepskin in 1969 and then, declining promotion, he undertook his 1st tour of Northern Ireland in 1970 on Operation Banner - on the peace line between the Shankhill and the Falls Road. Subsequent tours of Northern Ireland followed in 1971 and 1972, the latter being a very busy and dangerous tour in the New Lodge area, where, working with the Ammunition Technical Officer, Meredith and another member of his section were the first to fire the Carl Gustaf 84mm recoilless rifle at car bombs. Later in 1972 he also completed his 4th Northern Ireland Tour as Operation Motorman saw him complete two and a half months in the Ballymurphy area of Belfast. In 1973, after further jungle training in Malaya, Meredith completed a Newtown Hamilton border tour in Northern Ireland and was promoted to Lance Corporal. Having been promoted Corporal in 1974...