Hero sells medals for home

AFife war hero described as “one of the most decorated soldiers of the modern era” has sold his collection of medals for £150,000 to help buy a family home.

Sergeant Major John “Tommo” Thompson, of 42 Commando, Royal Marines, won the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross (CGC) for selfless bravery during the “Battle of the Sluice Gate” in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2007.

The single dad of three had already been Mentioned in Despatches for the rescue of his Delta Company colleagues during a lethal engagement in Iraq in 2003.

His outstanding and excessively rare “double gallantry” group of seven medals was sold in Dix Noonan Webb’s Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria sale.

Dunfermline-born Thompson, 43, said he will use the proceeds to buy a home to help “secure a stable” life for his children.

He said: “It was a hard decision to sell these medals but I’m a great believer in living in the moment. That was before and this is now and actually the greatest challenge in my life is being a good parent.

“I’m a single parent of three children aged six, eight and 21, and I need to be able to create the best opportunities for them as they grow up.

“I am so thankful that I won these medals, that I have this opportunity to put a deposit down on a house and secure a stable life for my children.”

Thompson was awarded the CGC for a display of bravery that led to the defeat of an overwhelming number of Taliban during an ambush and intense prolonged firefight at Habibollah Kalay, Helmand, on January 10 2007.

Pinned down under fire deep in Taliban territory, he engaged five separate enemy firing points.

His actions allowed the company to dismount their vehicles while he became the focus of “withering and accurate fire”.

Running low on ammunition, and “without any regard whatsoever for his own safety”, he stayed in the killing area, engaging the enemy at only 50 metres.

It was later recorded that “his utterly selfless and courageous actions allowed the company to win the firefight”.

BRAVERY: Sergeant Major John Thompson was awarded the CGC for his actions.