"Corporal Wayne Mills CGC in action near Gorazde, Bosnia, 29th April 1994"

Ref: DR070

by David Rowlands

Giclee Print 58 x 38 cm

On 29th April, 1994, a patrol led by Corporal Wayne Mills came under heavy small-arms fire from a group of Bosnian Serbs. The patrol returned fire, killing two of the attackers. The patrol then withdrew along a stream bed in the forest, but the attackers persisted in firing on the patrol. The patrol soon reached an open clearing, where it was obvious they would be highly vulnerable to fire from the attackers. Corporal Mills then performed an astonishing feat of bravery. He turned back and engaged the group in a fire-fight, delaying the attackers long enough to allow the rest of his patrol to cross the clearing. During the fire-fight, Corporal Mills shot the leader of the group and the rest scattered into the woods. Due to that action he returned to his patrol safely.

Corporal Mills of the 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment became the first recipient of the recently instituted Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, a decoration for bravery which is second only to the Victoria Cross.