Mark Sutcliffe

Who is Mark Sutcliffe?

Mark Sutcliffe MBE joined the British Army in 1997 aged 17, enlisting into the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment The Poachers, initially joining C Company. In 1999 he was selected to join the Close Reconnaissance 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, 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.