John Clifford Meredith

He led trapped men out while covering their safe withdrawal.

John Clifford Meredith was born at Bangor, Wales, in 1950. He joined the Parachute Regiment in March 1967 and trained at Aldershot before serving with 2nd Battalion. Early postings took him to Denmark, Malaya, Hong Kong and Anguilla. He repeatedly served in Northern Ireland during the 1970s, and also worked as an instructor at the regimental depot. He returned to 2 PARA as a sergeant before the Falklands campaign.

At Goose Green on 28–29 May 1982, a confused surrender left British soldiers exposed to Argentine fire. When his platoon commander was killed, Meredith took command of the surviving men. He used a machine gun and an anti-tank weapon to suppress the defenders and cover the withdrawal of comrades from an isolated position. His conduct demonstrated the leadership and control under fire for which the Distinguished Conduct Medal was awarded in October 1982. He also fought in the battalion's subsequent attack on Wireless Ridge.

His career continued through postings in Belize, instruction at Brecon and promotion to warrant officer. In 1988 he became permanent staff with 4 PARA. After more than twenty-three years of regular service, he left the Regular Army in 1990 and joined the Territorial Army the following year. Commissioned in 1994, he served in airborne liaison and later with 16 Air Assault Brigade. He returned to 2 PARA as its welfare officer in 2002.

Further operational service included another Northern Ireland tour, Iraq in 2004 and Afghanistan in 2008 with 3 PARA. He became officer commanding Headquarters Company in 2009 and retired as a major in 2010, aged sixty. His nine-medal group reflects both the conspicuous bravery of his Falklands service and a much longer career spanning regular and reserve appointments, instruction and the welfare of soldiers and their families.