Wayne Mills (British Army soldier)

Wayne Kevin Mills CGC, a Corporal in the British Army, was the first gazetted recipient of the new Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. Second only to the Victoria Cross, it is awarded to military personnel, for conspicuous gallantry during active operations against the enemy.

While serving with the 1st Battalion The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) on UN Service in Bosnia on 29 April 1994, a patrol led by Corporal Mills came under heavy small arms fire, from a group of Bosnian Serbs. The patrol returned fire, killing two of the attackers. The patrol moved away back towards their base and 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. Turning round, back into the wood, from his patrol he engaged the attacking group, delaying them long enough to allow the rest of his patrol to cross the clearing. Corporal Mills shot the leader of the group, causing the rest to scatter. He returned to his patrol safely.