"Sergeant-Major Darren Leigh MC, 1st Battalion The Queen's Lancashire Regiment"

by David Rowlands

Image Size 58 x 38 cm


On 9th August 2003, there was widespread disorder across Basrah. In the suburb of At Tannumah a large crowd gathered outside the Iraqi police station. Company Sergeant-Major Leigh, with only some 30 soldiers and three vehicles, faced a crowd 300-strong. The rioters were throwing a hail of bricks, then surged forward in an attempt to overwhelm the police station. Sgt-Major Leigh’s small force held them back, but came under fire from gunmen behind the crowd. Despite the disparity in numbers, and sensing that his small party of Queen's Lancashires were isolated, Sgt-Major Leigh seized the initiative by rapidly advancing into the crowd to disperse them. A grenade wounded him in the legs. Despite his injuries he led his 30 men in the subsequent baton charge against the mob, so that they were forced to withdraw and eventually disperse as darkness fell. For his quick thinking, courage under fire, and determination despite his wounds, Sergeant Major Leigh was awarded the Military Cross.

On his upper sleeve is the regiment’s tactical recognition flash, which ‘Daz’ had sewn upside down.