Bomb hero’s widow forced to sell medals to feed family
THE widow of an Army bomb disposal expert who saved countless lives is selling his medals to help provide for their four children.
Warrant Officer Gary O’Donnell, 40, married to Toni, was the first serviceman in 30 years awarded the George Medal twice for his courage in Iraq and Afghanistan. He died in September 2008.
Pierce Noonan, of London auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb, said: “Her reasons for selling the medals are simply that she has a young family to provide for.
“It has been an extremely difficult decision for her to make but because the value of them is between £50,000 to £60,000, the money is more useful to her family now. The medals are unique as they are the only George Medal and Bar awarded to a serviceman in the modern era.”
WO O’Donnell, from Edinburgh, a member of the Royal Logistics Corps, received a George Medal for defusing bombs, including a rocket aimed at the British base in Basra, southern Iraq.
The second posthumous medal was for saving a convoy from a bomb in Afghanistan.
The auction takes place on September 20.