John Clifford Meredith

John Clifford Meredith DCM

John Clifford Meredith was born in Bangor, North Wales, in 1950. He joined the British Army in March 1967, aged just seventeen, and successfully completed selection and recruit training for the Parachute Regiment at Aldershot, followed by parachute training at RAF Abingdon. He subsequently served with the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, and completed eight operational tours in Northern Ireland. (Noonans Mayfair)

In 1982, Sergeant Meredith deployed with 2 PARA to the Falkland Islands as Platoon Sergeant of 12 Platoon, D Company. During the Battle of Goose Green on 28–29 May, the battalion fought its way south through a succession of strongly defended Argentine positions following the death of its commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert “H” Jones. Meredith and his platoon helped clear Argentine trenches and continued the advance towards Boca House, the schoolhouse and the airfield. (Noonans Mayfair)

As the British troops approached the position near the Argentine flagpole, a confused white-flag incident occurred. Meredith’s platoon commander and two soldiers were killed. With the platoon suddenly without its officer, Meredith immediately assumed command, restored order and organised a powerful retaliatory attack using belt-fed machine guns and 66 mm rockets. His prompt action suppressed the Argentine position and saved the lives of five members of his platoon. (Noonans Mayfair)

Major Philip Neame, who witnessed the aftermath of the incident, later described Meredith as a remarkably steady and dependable soldier who kept the platoon working together during the chaos. Neame remembered him as “hard as nails and with the ability to think,” adding that Meredith never appeared flustered under fire. (Noonans Mayfair)

Meredith again distinguished himself during the Battle of Wireless Ridge on the night of 13–14 June 1982. With 12 Platoon dangerously exposed at the front of D Company’s advance, he helped lead the men forward through heavy Argentine machine-gun and artillery fire during a series of attacks along the ridge. His gallantry and leadership at Goose Green and Wireless Ridge were judged to be in the highest traditions of the Parachute Regiment. (Noonans Mayfair)

For his conspicuous gallantry and inspiring leadership during the Falklands campaign, Sergeant Meredith was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. His citation praised him as a dedicated leader who steadied younger soldiers under fire and inspired them through his personal example. It concluded that the five trapped soldiers owed their lives to his prompt and gallant action. Only eight Distinguished Conduct Medals were awarded during the South Atlantic campaign. (Forces News)

Meredith characteristically played down his own bravery. He said that he was proud of what 2 PARA had accomplished but regarded his own conduct simply as the work of a professional soldier doing his duty. (Noonans Mayfair)

After twenty-three years in the Regular Army, Meredith transferred to the Territorial Army. He later completed operational tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and retired in 2010, aged sixty, with the rank of Major. His military career had extended across six decades. (Forces News)

In December 2020, his group of nine medals, together with citations, photographs, letters and other personal material, was sold by Dix Noonan Webb for £150,000. The collection preserved the record of a professional soldier remembered not only for his Distinguished Conduct Medal, but for his steadiness under fire and the lives he saved at Goose Green. (Forces News)