Mark Sutcliffe

Mark Sutcliffe MBE (born 29 July 1979 in Peterborough, England) joined the British Army in 1997 aged 17, enlisting into the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment The Poachers, initially joining C (Northamptonshire) Company. In 1999 he was selected to join the Close Reconnaissance Platoon (Recce Platoon), over the next 9 years Sgt Sutcliffe served with the Battalion in Cyprus, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan.

In spring 2006 2 R ANGLIAN deployed to Iraq as part of OP TELIC 8 forming Basra City South Battle group. On 18 July 2006, the Recce Platoon were conducting offensive operations around the area of Al-Hadi and 5-mile market within the city confines of Basra. The patrol was initially contacted by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG), directly hitting Sgt Sutcliffe on the leg. The blunt trauma was severe, taking his leg off at the point of impact, although, having failed to detonate, continued on its flight path, injuring a young Iraqi child.

Despite massive blood loss, Sgt Sutcliffe's life was saved by the quick thinking, bravery and true grit of the patrol commander and the soldiers under his command. Sgt Sutcliffe was flown to the British Field Hospital located within Shaibah Logistics Base and underwent immediate surgery, then evacuated by the Tactical Medical Wing (TMW) Royal Air Force to the United Kingdom for further treatment. In November 2006 he took his first steps using a Prosthesis whilst posted to DMRC Headley Court.

Sgt Mark Sutcliffe is one of the Hero patrons of Help for Heroes, a member of Blesma and was one of four Military Liaison Officers posted to Selly Oak Hospital, looking after the needs of injured soldiers and their families. Sgt Sutcliffe spent 4 years in this post and was awarded an MBE for his work as a Military Liaison Officer in the 2012 Queens Birthday Honours List.

Sgt Mark Sutcliffe left the British Army late 2012 and took up the post of General Manager at the disabled children’s charity: Reach Out Plus