Campaign Groups and Pairs 404
Twelve: Warrant Officer Class I P. W. Griffiths, Royal Corps of Signals, who served as a Special Forces Communications Officer attached to the S.A.S. for the majority of his 21-year operational career, from the ‘Bravo Two Zero’ patrols in the First Gulf War in 1991, to a final tour of Afghanistan in 2012, for which he received a Major- General’s Commendation
Gulf 1990-91, 1 clasp, 16 Jan to 28 Feb 1991 (24816801 Sig P W Griffiths R Signals); U.N. Medal, on UNPROFOR riband; N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Former Yugoslavia, with ‘2’ emblem on riband; General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24816801 Cpl P W Griffiths R Signals); N.A.T.O. Medal 1994, 1 clasp, Kosovo; Operational Service Medal 2000, for Sierra Leone, with rosette (24816801 Cpl P W Griffiths R Signals); Operational Service Medal 2000, for Afghanistan, 1 clasp, Afghanistan (24816801 Sgt P W Griffiths R Signals); Jubilee 2002, unnamed as issued; Jubilee 2012, unnamed as issued; Accumulated Campaign Service Medal 2011 (SSgt PWGriffiths R Signals 24816801); Volunteer Reserves Service Medal, E.II.R. (24816801 Cpl P W Griffiths R Signals); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, Regular Army (SSgt P W Griffiths R Signals 24816801) mounted court-style as worn in this order, generally nearly extremely fine (12)
£3,000-£4,000
Paul William Griffiths joined the Royal Corps of Signals (Territorial Army) in 1990, and served as a reservist with R Troop (V) 264 S.A. S. Signal Squadron during Operation Granby (Gulf War) in 1991. In his own words, ‘Although not mobilised I was deployed to the Middle East in support of A and B Squadrons, 22 S.A.S., as a Communications Operator, providing strategic and tactical communications to deployed patrols including the now infamous call-sign, Bravo Two Zero.’
Griffiths saw further service with the United Nations Forces in Bosnia in 1993-94: ‘Again, deployed whist serving as a reservist, I served with B Squadron, 22 S.A.S., mostly based in Gornji Vakuf and Gorazde, but travelled all around the theatre to other C.I.M.I.C. Houses in the United Kingdom Liaison Officer area of responsibility.’
Transferring to the Regular Forces on 13 December 1994, and promoted Corporal on 13 December 1995, Griffiths served two tours with the N.A.T.O. Forces in Former Yugoslavia from 1996-99, ‘Firstly deploying in 1996 with a composite Squadron made up from members of 21 and 23 S.A.S., who were employed as Joint Commission Observers. I was based in Banja Luka for 4 months before moving to Sarajevo for the final 2 months where I became part of a 2-man Forward Air Controller team with a member of D Squadron, 22 S.A.S. Between mid-1998 and the end of 1999, I returned a further 3 times to Operation Tango running the communications detachment and deploying on covert reconnaissance task, taking part in several operations to arrest indicted war criminals wanted by the International War Crimes Tribunal. I was then deployed to Kosovo in 1999 in response to the Russian move on Pristina Airport with elements of G Squadron 22 S.A.S., part of small team task operating covertly from Northern Albania.’
In between his services in Former Yugoslavia and Kosovo, in 1997 Griffiths was based in Northern Ireland, as part of Operation Banner, as a Province-wide United Kingdom Special Forces Communications Operator based in Aldergrove, and was awarded his Volunteer Reserves Service Medal on 23 November 1999.
Griffiths was next deployed to Sierra Leone, as part of Operation Barras, in 2000: ‘I was initially deployed as part of the 2-man activation party to set up the Forward Mounting Base in Senegal. Receiving B Company, 1 Parachute Regiment, followed then by the advance party of D Squadron, 22 S.A.S. and elements of the S.B.S., I arrived to carry out detailed planning prior to moving to Sierra Leone. It was also part of my role to install and test tactical satellite communications onto all of CH47 aircraft that were due to take part in the operation. Once this was complete, I moved forward to Lungi Camp where I provided tactical and strategic communications during the operation. I remained as part of the recovery team and was one of the last to leave theatre.’
Promoted Sergeant on 4 March 2002, Griffiths’ final operational posting was to Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick: ‘I completed 3 tours of Afghanistan between 2005 and 2012 with the United Kingdom Special Forces Group, employed on Team Tasks training specialist Afghan Forces. I was also deployed with the composite 52 Infantry Brigade in 2007-08 providing training for the Brigade Reconnaissance Force and Joint Forward Air Controllers on the new communications suite deployed to theatre. I completed a final tour of Afghanistan in 2011-12 with 20 Armoured Brigade, where I deployed as a Troop Commander, and for which I received a Major- General’s Commendation.’
Griffiths was promoted Staff Sergeant on 9 July 2005, and was awarded his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal on 12 December 2009. He was promoted Warrant Officer Class II on 9 July 2012, and was advanced to his ultimate rank of Warrant Officer Class I on 27 June 2016. He retired from the Army on 12 December 2018.
Sold with a limited edition (no. 42 of 300) print by the artist Kevin Lyles (2009), additionally signed by the artist, depicting the role of a Special Forces Communicator employed as a S.A.S. Commander’s Tactical Signaller on Operations, entitled ‘Sabre 56’; and a copy of the recipient’s Record of Service.
www.dnw.co.uk all lots are illustrated on our website and are subject to buyers’ premium at 24% (+VAT where applicable)
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164 |
Page 165 |
Page 166 |
Page 167 |
Page 168 |
Page 169 |
Page 170 |
Page 171 |
Page 172 |
Page 173 |
Page 174 |
Page 175 |
Page 176 |
Page 177 |
Page 178 |
Page 179 |
Page 180 |
Page 181 |
Page 182 |
Page 183 |
Page 184 |
Page 185 |
Page 186 |
Page 187 |
Page 188 |
Page 189 |
Page 190 |
Page 191 |
Page 192 |
Page 193 |
Page 194 |
Page 195 |
Page 196 |
Page 197 |
Page 198 |
Page 199 |
Page 200 |
Page 201 |
Page 202 |
Page 203 |
Page 204 |
Page 205 |
Page 206 |
Page 207 |
Page 208 |
Page 209 |
Page 210 |
Page 211 |
Page 212 |
Page 213 |
Page 214 |
Page 215 |
Page 216 |
Page 217 |
Page 218 |
Page 219 |
Page 220 |
Page 221 |
Page 222 |
Page 223 |
Page 224 |
Page 225
