A Falkland’s campaign pair to Corporal D. E. “Don” Milton, Special Air Service Regiment and Royal Signals, who went on to serve as a mercenary in Colombia

General Service 1962, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland (24127723 Sig. D. E. Milton, R. Signals); South Atlantic 1982, with rosette (24127723 Cpl. D. E. Milton, R. Signals (S.A.S.)) good very fine (2) £800-1000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Good Series of Awards to Members of the S.A.S..

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As confirmed in Peter McAleese’s No Mean Soldier, The Story of the Ultimate Professional Soldier in the S.A.S. and Other Forces, “Don” Milton was employed as a mercenary by the Colombian Army to assist in an operation to eliminate Pablo Escobar, an important cocaine baron at his heavily-guarded villa. The operation, which was code-named “Phoenix”, was to be carried out by two four-man house-storming teams, one of which was commanded by Milton, the whole being transported by helicopters to within striking range of the target. As it transpired, disaster struck on “D-Day” itself, when the command helicopter with McAleese aboard, crashed into thick jungle. With “Phoenix” compromised, and one man dead, McAleese ordered his team to make haste to Panama; his autobiograhy, a copy of which is included, contains several pictures relevant to this Columbian operation, including scenes from a “live rehearsal” carried out at a La Gagua, Milton undoubtedly being among the balaklava-clad figures emerging from a smoking building.

Withdrawn