CSM (Northern Ireland), Iraq, OSM Afghanistan and LS&GC Medal Group of Seven – Sgt. L.D. McLellan, Royal Electrical & Mechanicl Engineers – Wounded in an IED Blast and Awarded a Commendation for Command and Leadership

A modern medal group of seven awarded to 25047904 Sergeant Lee David McLellan, Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, who was wounded in an IED blast and later awarded a commendation for command and leadership, coupled with his cool, collected behaviour during another IED explosion.

NATO Medal (Former Yugoslavia) unnamed as issued
Campaign Service Medal (Clasp – Northern Ireland) named to 25047904 Cfn L D Mc Lellan REME
Iraq Medal (No Clasp) named to 25047904 LCpl L D McLellan REME
Operational Service Medal Afghanistan named to Sgt L D McLellan REME 25047904
2002 Golden Jubilee Medal unnamed as issued
2012 Diamond Jubilee Medal unnamed as issued
EIIR Army Long service & Good Conduct Medal named to Sgt L D McLellan REME 25047904

The medals are in good condition and are court mounted for wear.

Citation for the award of the long service and good conduct medal:

“Sergeant McLellan joined the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers on the 6 February 1996. After successfully completing basic training at Training Battalion and Depot, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers he was posted to the school of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering to carry out trade training as a Recovery Mechanic.

On successful completion of the course Sergeant McLellan was posted to 15 Field Workshop. He completed his Class 2 training and was awarded top student. Shortly following this he was deployed to the Balkans on Op PALANTINE. Within months of finishing his first tour he re deployed to NI for an 8 month tour during this time he completed many high profiles tasks often in the middle of riots. He deployed to batus to complete the first EX IRON ANVIL and remained there for another year as them staff. During the remainder of his first posting Sergeant McLellan played Rugby for the Corp and Army he was promoted to Lance Corporal in September 2000.

In January 2001 he was posted to the Queen’s Lancashire Regiment as the sole Recovery Mechanic. He deployed with the Regiment on 3 EX MEDICINE MAN and attended and passed his Class 1 course again being awarded the top student. After completing his Jmc he deployed to Liverpool during the fire strikes as a tender leader on the green goddesses. Sgt McLellan then deployed on Op TELIC2 with the QLR where he was based in Basra palace. Due to the high number of Recovery Mechanica already based at the palace, Sgt McLellan spent most of the tour with B Company as a multiple 2IC. An incident where a mother and daughter were scavenging bricks from a ruined building saw the building collapse on them. Sgt McLellan took control of the situation and by the use of Fidel Recovery Vehicles hydraulic culling equipment; he was able to save them both. Fir conducting such a courageous act, Sgt McLellan found himself subject to a lot of media attention; putting the Army efforts in Iraq into a good light.

In January 2004 Sgt McLellan was posted to the Devon and Dorset Regiment again as the sole Recovery Mechanic here he was selected for promotion in March 2004 to Cpl.

In March 2094, Sgt McLellan was posted to the Queen’s Royal Lancers as B San Recovery Mechanic this was Firstly on CRARRV and then when the Regiment re-rolled to a reconnaissance Regiment on a Samson. He deployed on OP TELIC 9 with the Regiment and was part of the first Battle Group to be deployed solely in the desert for 7 months, carrying out long range desert patrols along the Iraq Iran border. During the tour Sgt McLellan was injured in an IED blast that fatally wounded two soldiers and seriously injured another five. Sgt McLellan refused medical attention until he had recovered the bodies of the two soldiers and had recovered the stranded vehicles. Sgt McLellan was lifted back to Basra for treatment and subsequently airlifted back to the UK to receive further treatment.

After an operation and a period of 3 weeks sick leave Sgt McLellan re-deployed to Iraq to see out the rest of the tour. He was selected for promotion to Sgt in October 2006 and went on to complete his SCLM before being posted out.

Sgt McLellan next posting was to SEME as an A Vehicle Recovery instructor spending the majority of the time as the Section head.

As posting 1 CS BN REME in September 2009 as a Platoon Sgt, followed where he was immediately sent on a TTX to instruct on CRARRV and then onto OP HERRICK 12 as one of 2 CLP Recovery commanders. During the tour Sgt McLellan provided Cover in yellow 14 a small CP of 8 soldiers and found himself carrying out the roles of an infantryman rather than a Recovery Mechanic, he conducted Foot patrols and spent the majority of time as a JACKAL commander. Sgt McLellan was subject to another IED blast thankfully this time there were no injuries for his actions Sgt McLellan was awarded an DEME (A) commendation being named the lynch pin in the Recovery Platoon.

For fifteen years exemplary and irreproachable service Sergeant McLellan is awarded the long service and good conduct medal.”
Dated 21 February 2011.

Commendation from the Director Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (Army) Brigadier MJ Boswell ADC
Dated 23 May 2011 awarded to 25047904 Sergeant McLellan REME, citation reads:

“Sergeant McLellan deployed on Operation HERRICK 12 as a senior recovery mechanic working primarily in support of the Combat Logistic Patrol (CLP) programme. In addition, McLellan took responsibility of the Support Vehicle (Recovery) (SV)(R) fleet, never once did the heavily tested fleet fail to reach the capability required of the operational tempo.

On the afternoon of 12th May 2010 whilst on the return leg of the CLP Operation LOAM 27, McLellan had positioned his SV(R) at the top of a steep incline to assist the heavily laden Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET) vehicles. Due to the terrain the area is known and well used as an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) location. Having successfully ensured the CSLR task vehicles had reached the plateau at the top of incline, his SV(R) rejoined the CLP. Moments later McLellan’s SV(R) suffered a catastrophic IRD strike.

Having endured his crew was safe McLellan enabled the recovery of his own vehicle onto the HET. Knowing he was a key link to the CLP Commander, McLellan then took command of one of the remaining 4 SV(R), continuing to provide support and advice to the CLP for the remaining 12 hours. Having completed a testing 5-day operation he returned to Camp Bastion.

24 hours later he attended orders for a second CLP (CLAY 7), again acting as the recovery commander and subject matter expert for 43 Squadron. This deployment came less than 72 hours after his return from Operation LOAM 27 where a lesser soldier may have avoided redeployment. His exemplary leadership, both in Camp Bastion and when deployed on CLPs, produced a role model to all soldiers within the platoon. His ability to maintain his sense of humour, bringing a lighter shade to any situation, is truly impressive. Sergeant McLellan was a lynch pin in the recovery platoon. He singularly ensured the success of the Recovery Platoon over a particularly difficult three month period. His enduring level of command and leadership, coupled with his cool, collected behaviour on Operations is wholly worth of formal recognition.”

The group comes with:

• Commanding Officer’s Award of Merit 1 Close Support Battalion REME. “challenge coin” type medal.
• Metal REME Identification tag on chain.
• REME beret badge “staybrite” made by Firmin
• Certificate recognition of service with the Queen’s Royal Lancers, 18 January 2008
• Citation for the award of the long service good conduct medal to McLellan, 21 February 2011
• Commendation to McLellan, 23 May 2011
• Copy Soldier’s Confidential Reports from 02/03/99 to 01/03/04
• Copy Emergency Tour Attachment Report, Canada October 2001 to April 2002
• Copy Mid Year performance review, 26 October 2004
• Copy Army Soldier’s Appraisal, Year 2010/11
• Photos, including McLellan driving a vehicle, “Bosnia 1998”, McLellan working on a vehicle, “Canada 2001”, McLellan at setting wheel of a vehicle, “With QLR 2002” and a group photo in DPM combat clothing. Training or Northern Ireland
• Large photocopy images of McLellan welding work on a vehicle and McLellan wearing combat clothing & helmet in desert
• QRL Battlegroup of IDF Map – OP TELIC 9 22 October 2006 to 21 May 2007
• Sunday Mirror newspaper, Special Edition for our Services December 25, 2009