Falkland Islands

Falklands hero sells war medal for £120k

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An Army Falklands War hero has sold his Distinguished Service Cross at auction for a record £120,000.

John Phillips was awarded the naval medal – believed to be the only one issued to a rank and file serviceman – for trying to make safe a 1,000lb bomb dropped into HMS Antelope by an Argentinian plane.

The then 39-year-old Sergeant Major and colleague Sgt James Prescott made several unsuccessful attempts and were 30ft away behind a door when a 28-second delayed fuse they had unwittingly triggered set off the bomb, killing his colleague and costing him his left arm.

Speaking for BFBS in 2007, he said: "We fired, waited our safe time - I went forward and 'boom' - it exploded. Now I could hear the bomb explode - I felt the vibration throughout the ship - but the next thing I remember is there's this sudden whoosh like two trains passing at high speed. I was flying through the air.

"Now I thought I was dead. I know people have said this before but I was going down this tunnel and at the end of the tunnel was a bright light and there was a silouette of my father there, but I never got there.

"I started to shout for Jim and I was looking round. It was dark. There was fire. Smoke. I was in an environment I didn't have a clue how to get out of. And after a few seconds there was a hand on my shoulder saying there is nothing you can do for him. Follow me."

His colleague - Sgt Prescott - received a posthumous Conspicuous Gallantry Medal and the image of HMS Antelope exploding became one of the most memorable of the conflict.

After leaving the service in 1989, Mr Philips joined the civil service as an advisor on the security of explosives.

He sold the medal to help him and his wife Christine enjoy their retirement and move to a bigger home.