An Afghan War hero who took on the enemy with a broken back and shrapnel lodged in his face is selling his bravery medals to support his young family.
Corporal Josh Griffiths was having dinner in a cookhouse when a pick-up truck packed with half-a-ton of explosives was driven into the perimeter wall at Camp Folad, Helmand Province, in 2013.
He dragged himself off the ground and grabbed a machine gun before engaging a party of insurgents who had burst through the 130ft gap created by the huge blast.
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The enemy aimed rocket-propelled grenades at him and showered him with automatic fire during a prolonged close-quarters firefight.
At one stage, Cpl Griffiths was just 80ft from the insurgents and had they got past him 15 wounded comrades would have been at their mercy.
His rearguard allowed them to be evacuated and all but one of them survived the attack.
Cpl Griffiths, who was not wearing any protective equipment, did not stop until the insurgents were driven from the base.
He had been running on adrenaline but was so badly hurt he had to be sent home to Britain for hospital treatment.
A medical evaluation at Camp Bastion revealed he broke the fourth vertebrae in his back, and there were grenade fragments embedded millimetres from his left eye.
Cpl Griffiths was awarded a prestigious Conspicuous Gallantry Cross, second only to the Victoria Cross, and received a letter of gratitude from Prince Charles who praised his 'truly exceptional courage and selfless commitment to protect his comrades'.
His citation states His actions 'saved the lives of his wounded comrades and contributed significantly to the successful defence of the base'.
The 32-year-old, from Eastham, Wirral, left the army last month after a distinguished 16-year career which included stints in Iraq and Northern Ireland.
He is now selling his medals, letters and a collection of photos for for £120,000 through London-based auctioneers Dix Noonan Webb and will use the proceeds to provide for his family.
Corporal Griffiths said giving his children 'financial stability' was more important than keeping his gallantry medals.
He said: "I left the army two weeks ago and I am now looking towards the future.
"I have a three-month old daughter, and I will use the money to give her financial stability.
"It is sad that I am having to sell the medals, but my daughter's future is more important to me now."
Christopher Mellor-Hill, associate director at Dix Noonan Webb, said: "We are pleased to be offering Cpl Griffiths' CGC for sale so he can begin a new life outside the army and provide added financial security for his new young family.
"His CGC was for an act of outstanding bravery in counter-attacking enemy insurgents who had broken through into their barracks when in Afghanistan in 2013.
"This led to the enemy's defeat and withdrawal from action despite Cpl Griffiths being severely wounded which saw him immediately hospitalised back in the UK."
Cpl Griffiths joined the army aged 17 in 2006 and did tours in Afghanistan, Iraq and Northern Ireland before he was deployed with C Company (Cheshire), 1st Battalion, Mercian Regiment to Afghanistan as part of Operation Herrick 17 in October 2012.
Cpl Griffiths later recalled of his actions on March 25, 2013: "I was thrown around as well as everyone else and the next thing I remember it was dark and I was on my back. I heard one of the lads scream out. My first instinct was to see who was hurt and help.
"One of the lads was shouting that another was badly injured.
"We had to crawl through the debris in the dark to get him out... I heard one of the lads scream out, so I approached him and helped and then I climbed out of the tent to see if there were more casualties.
"When I did that, there were rounds snapping past and I thought, that's a bit close.
"The job just took over and I pushed forward... I think adrenaline kicked in.
"Around me there were a lot of casualties. As soon as I was out in the open air, bullets where whizzing past my head, missing me by millimetres... I turned left and there were the insurgents standing there... they were also firing rocket-propelled grenades.
"All I could think was 'I have to stop them or they’ll kill me and my mates'."
His CGC citation states: "Realising that a small number of determined insurgents had already gained entry into the patrol base and were less than 50m away from him and the other casualties, despite being seriously injured and wearing no protective equipment, Griffiths rallied the dazed soldiers around him.
"Armed with a light machine gun that he had grabbed in the chaos, Griffiths faced down the enemy who were throwing grenades and firing automatic weapons, placing himself and one other soldier between the casualties and the insurgents.
"His immediate actions halted the insurgents at the northern wall of the base, allowing the casualties from the initial explosion to be extracted.
"As other uninjured soldiers began to arrive, Griffiths who could have stepped back to receive treatment for his injuries, shrugged off his injuries and aided by the Sergeant Major, led a small team of soldiers as they charged forward in order to secure the base.
"Griffiths' actions certainly saved the lives of his wounded comrades and contributed significantly to the successful defence of the base."
Griffiths received a letter from Prince Charles, dated October 8, 2013, which read: "I was particularly pleased and proud to hear the splendid news of your thoroughly well-deserved Conspicuous Gallantry Cross and very much wanted to drop you a line to send you my most heartfelt congratulations.
"To say that I am full of admiration for your truly exceptional courage, initiative and endurance, not to mention your selfless commitment to protect your comrades, is a serious understatement."
He was presented with his CGC by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace in February 2014.
Cpl Griffiths medal group consists of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross; General Service 1962-2007, 1 clasp, Northern Ireland; Iraq 2003-11; Operational Service Medal 2000; Jubilee 2012.
The sale takes place on February 26.
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