Honour Roll, Key Appointments

plus Honours and Awards



RASigs Tac

Honour Roll

 

Sig Dennis Eric Abraham   Photo of Sig Dennis Abraham, KIA

Dennis was a national serviceman Signalman radio operator and was killed when the US helicopter in which he was riding was shot down on 29th September 1968 in Long Khanh Province, South Vietnam. He was part of a four men Retrans Detachment operating at Blackhorse and also included Robert “Bob” Parkyns (Det Comd), Geoff Morgan and Robert 'Skid' Rowe. Non shift members were drinking with a US Army LFT (Light Fire Team) crew from the 2/11 ACR and were invited to do a mission the next day. Dennis was not on shift and jump at the opportunity.

Their UH-1C Huey (Tail Number 66-00523)  never made it back to Blackhorse and the five serviceman on board were KIA on the 29th Sept 1968.  US Army serviceman were WO1 Jerry Lee Harris (Aircraft Commander), WO1 William Paul Rollins (Pilot), SP5 Blaine Joseph Shepherd (Crew) and SP4 John James Matuska (Crew).

The 104 Sig Sqn OR Club at Nui Dat was name in Dennis's Honour as the 'Abraham Club' Photo of the Abraham Club, Nui Dat, South Vietnam in early 1969.   A photo and plaque was placed in the club at the time. Since, the OR Canteen at 104 Sig Sqn is always named in honour of Dennis.  The tradition is still proudly maintained at the 1st Combat Signal Regiment (1CSR) in Darwin. Photo of the Abraham Club, Nui Dat, South Vietnam

Dennis is interred at Centennial Park, South Australia.

Cpl Denis John Donnelly   Photo of Cpl Denis Donnelly, AK  

Denis was a Corporal Clerk with 104 Sig Sqn and was killed at the Australian base, Nui Dat, Phuoc Tuy, South Vietnam when his was cleaning his 9mm F1 sub-machine gun and it accidentally discharged on the morning of the 9th August 1967.

Denis is interred at Mudgee Cemetery, New South Wales.

Sig Alexander Henry Young   Photo of Sig Alexander Young, KIA

Alex was a national serviceman Signalman lineman but was in the CMF before being called up. He was killed in action two weeks before his 22nd Birthday on Operation Toan Thang, in Bien Hoa Province, at the Battle of Coral, during an mortar/rocket attack on Fire Support Patrol Base Coral, on the 16th May 1968.

The 104 Sig Sqn training room at Nui Dat constructed early 1969 was named in Alex's honour as the 'Alexander Young Training Room' The Alexander Young Training Room, 1CSR, Darwin    A photo and plaque was placed in the room at the time.   The original training building at 104 Sig Sqn, 1st Combat Signal Regiment (1CSR), Darwin was still named in honour of Alex. The Alexander Young Training Room, 1CSR, Darwin  However on the 8th August 2018, 1CSR formally opened the 'Alexander Young  Battlefield  Communication Wing', which replaced the training building.  The new training facility is the first of its kind to be embedded into a Royal Australian Corps of Signals Combat Signal Regiment. The Alexander Young Training Room, 1CSR, Darwin

Alex is interred at the Garden of Remembrance, Mt Gravatt Cemetery, Queensland.

WO2 Michael William T Gill, MiD  WO2 Mick Gill, KIA

Mick served in Vietnam with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) with the rank of temporary Warrant Officer.  He was killed in action in Kontum Province on 6th May 1969.

In a battalion-scale operation on 6th May the 232nd Company of the Mobile Strike Force, under W02 Ray Simpson was moving through the jungle of large trees and dense bamboo undergrowth in rain and poor visibility in II Corps area near the junction of the borders of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. When one of his platoons became heavily engaged with the enemy Simpson led the remainder of his company to its assistance.   As the company moved forward, one of the platoon commanders, Australian Warrant Officer M.W. Gill, was seriously wounded and the assault began to falter.  Simpson, in the face of heavy enemy fire, moved across open ground and carried Gill to safety.  He returned to his company then crawled forward to within ten metres of the enemy.  From here he lobbed grenades into their positions.  Simpson then ordered his company to withdraw and he and five indigenous soldiers covered the withdrawal.  Ray Simpson was awarded the Victoria Cross in part for his actions to save WO2 Michael Gill.

 WO2 Gill received a Mentioned in Dispatched (MID), Posthumous and is interment at the Toowoomba Garden Cemetery, Queensland

Sig Barry Arthur Logan  Lofty Logan, KIA

Barry died when the APC in which he was travelling on Operation Portsea, stuck a mine and exploded in Xuyen Loc Province, south west of Saigon on 28th March 1967.

Three Operators members of 145 Sig Sqn were tasked to work with American Liason Officers on Operation Portsea.  Two of these members were Cpl Wally Kerr and Sig Barry (Lofty) Logan.   During their period away from Vung Tau and only days before he was to return to Australia,  Lofty was to travel in the leading APC but had made friends with an American, who was on the rear APC.  So he changed places with Wally Kerr.   The three APC’s were in convey when the third APC was blown up, as the result of a booby trapped 500lb bomb, placed in the roadway. 

It took several months, after the lost of Lofty, to have the now 110 Sig Sqn area at 1ALSG, Vung Tau declared “Logans Hill” Logans Hill, 110 Sig Sqn, 1ALSG, Vung Tau, South Vietnam   A suitable rock and plaque was added to the 110 Sig Sqn flag pole area on Logans Hill to honour Lofty. Barry Logan KIA

Lofty is interment at the Springvale Crematorium, Victoria

Sig Sydney Thomas Moore  Sydney Moore, Died Vietnam Service

Sydney was a member of 110 Sig Sqn became ill on 18th September 1969 and was returned to Australia where he died of neuroblastomma in Repatriation General Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria on 25th August 1970.

Sydney is interment at the Lilydale Cemetery, Victoria

Sig David Anthony B Wallis   Sydney Moore, Died Vietnam Service

David a member of 110 Signal Squadron.  He return to Australia 24th September 1970 and died at the Repatriation General Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria on the 17th March 1972.

David is interment at the Eltham Cemetery, Victoria

 

Key Appointments

709 SIGNAL TROOP
(Element from 2 Signal Regiment)

CAPT R.L.C. TWISS
APR 1965 - JUN 1966
 

 527 SIGNAL TROOP
(Element from 2 Signal Regiment)

2LT R.M. LONIE
SEP 1965 - OCT 1966
Photo of Lt Lonie, Tp Comd, 527 Sig Tp

 145 SIGNAL SQUADRON
506, 520, 552, 581, 527 and 709 Signal Troops
Note: 527 and 709 Signal Troops absorbed into the Squadron.
(All elements from 2 Signal Regiment)

OC

 
MAJ J.H. BIRD
MAR 1966 - MAR 1967
Photo of Maj Bird, OC

SSM

 
WO2 R.E. HILLMAN
MAR 1966 - MAR 1967
Photo of WO2 Bob Hillman

 103 SIGNAL SQUADRON

OC

 
MAJ P.D. MUDD, MiD
APR 1966 - MAY 1967        
Photo of WO2 King and Maj Peter Mudd, 103 Sig Sqn
SSM    
WO2 C. KING
MAY 1966 - APR 1967
Photo of WO2 King, SSM, 103 Sig Sqn

 547 SIGNAL TROOP
(Element from 7 Signal Regiment)

CAPT T.J. RICHARDS
JUN 1966 - APR 1967
Photo of Capt Richards, 1st OC, Vietnam
CAPT W.E. HUGHES
APR 1967 - FEB 1968
 
MAJ P.T. MURRAY
FEB 1968 - SEP 1968
 
MAJ S.W. HART
SEP 1968 - AUG 1969
Photo of Maj Hart, 4th OC, Vietnam
CAPT E.W. POULTNEY
AUG 1969 - JUN 1970
 
CAPT J.E.  FENTON
JUN 1970 - JUN 1971
Photo of Capt Fenton, 6th OC, Vietnam
MAJ H.J. O'FLYNN
JUN 1971 - DEC 1971
Herbie O'Flynn

 104 SIGNAL SQUADRON

OC

 
MAJ G.L. LAWRENCE
APR 1967 - JAN 1968
Photo of Maj Lawrence, 1st OC, Vietnam
MAJ N.C. MUNRO
JAN 1968 - JAN 1969
Photo of Maj Munro, 2nd OC, Vietnam
MAJ K.P. MOREL, MiD
JAN 1969 - JAN 1970
Photo of Maj Morel, 3rd OC, Vietnam
MAJ N.R. BERGIN
JAN 1970 - JAN 1971
Photo of Maj Bergin, 4th OC, Vietnam
MAJ A.G. ROBERTS
JAN 1971 - NOV 1971
Photo of Maj Roberts, Last OC, Vietnam

SSM

 
WO2 A.D. EVANS
JAN 1967 - JAN 1968
Photo of WO2 Evans, 1st SSM
WO2 R.A. STILL
JAN 1968 - JAN 1969
Photo of WO2 Still, 2nd SSM, Vietnam
WO2 S.R. CONLON
JAN 1969 - JAN 1970
Photo of WO2 Conlon, 3rd SSM, Vietnam
WO2 A.B. HUSTON
JAN 1970 - JAN 1970
Photo of WO2 Huston, 4th SSM, Vietnam
WO2 B.R. FISHER
JAN 1970 - SEP 1971
Photo of WO2 Fisher, 5th SSM, Vietnam

 110 SIGNAL SQUADRON
(Element from 2 Signal Regiment)

OC

 
MAJ E.H. HYNES
MAR 1967 - MAR 1968
Photo of Maj Hynes, 1st OC, Vietnam
MAJ C.R. HOOK
MAR 1968 - JUL 1968
 
MAJ P.L. PERMAN
JUL 1968 - JUL 1969
Photo of Maj Perman, 3rd OC, Vietnam
MAJ M.R. RAMSAY
JUL 1969 - NOV 1969
 
MAJ M.J. LEMON
NOV 1969 - FEB 1970
 
MAJ M.R. RAMSAY
FEB 1970 - JUL 1970
 
MAJ D.R. OVERSTEAD
JUL 1970 - JUN 1971
 
MAJ P.G. WILKINS
JUN 1971 - FEB 1972
Photo of Maj Wilkins, Last OC, Vietnam

 SSM

 

 
WO2 R.C. HUTCHISON
MAR 1967 - DEC 1967
 
WO2 A.J. WILLIAMS
DEC 1967 - OCT 1968
 
WO2  P.N. McGEE
OCT 1968 - JUN 1969
Photo of WO2 McGee 3rd SSM, Vietnam
WO2 B.F. McSWEENEY
JUN 1969 - JUN 1970
Photo of WO2 McSweeney 4th SSM, Vietnam
WO2 A.W. BARKER
JUN 1970 - JUN 1971
 
WO2 W.K. WELFARE
JUN 1971 - FEB 1972
 

 DET 152 SIGNAL SQUADRON
(Element from Special Air Service Regiment)

SGT D.A. CROUCHER (3SAS)
JUN 1966 – MAR 1967
Photo of Sgt Croucher, 1st Tp Det Comd, Vietnam
SGT M.P. LYON
MAR 1967 - FEB 1968
Photo of Sgt Lyon, 2nd Tp Det Comd, Vietnam
SGT D.M. LOWSON
FEB 1968 - SEP 1968
Photo of Sgt Lowson 3rd Tp Det Comd, Vietnam
2LT P.J. FITZPATRICK
SEP 1968 - SEP 1969
Photo of Lt Fitzpatrick, 4th Tp Comd, Vietnam
2LT B.R. SCHWARZ
AUG 1969 - AUG 1970
 
2LT C. LAWSON-BAKER
AUG 1970 - AUG 1971
 
2LT R.P. GURNEY
AUG 1971 - OCT 1971
 

 AUSTRALIAN ARMY ASSISTANCE GROUP VIETNAM - SIG DET
(Element from 2 Signal Regiment)

 CAPT P.R. MONTGOMERY
FEB 1972 - MAR 1972
 
 WO2 W.J. BANNIGAN
MAR 1972 - MAY 1972
 WO2 W.W. RITCHIE-ROBINS
MAY 1972 - DEC 1972
 

HQ AFV Chief Signals Officer (CSO) and Staff Officer Signals (SOSigs)

 MAJ J.H. BIRD
MAR 1966 - MAR 1967
Photo of Maj Bird, OC
 MAJ D.J. COMMERFORD
MAR 1967 - OCT 1967
 
 MAJ K.P. CAREY
OCT 1967 - AUG 1968
 
 MAJ C.R. HOOK
AUG 1968 - JAN 1969
 
 LT COL B.H. HOCKNEY
JAN 1969 - JAN 1970
 
 LT COL R.E.P. COWLEY
JAN 1970 - JAN 1971
 
 LT COL G.J. MAPSON
JAN 1971 - DEC 1971
 

 

Honours and Awards to Signals in Vietnam

This list of has been compiled by Gavin Lee as part of his ongoing research on awards to members of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals (RASigs) since it was formed.   Any additional information or amends should be forwarded to Gavin and the Webmaster.   Click Email

Australian Awards (RASigs Vietnam Only)

     Commander of the Bath (CB)

Maj Gen Douglas Vincent OBE MiD (Comd AFV)

     Member of the British Empire (MBE)

Maj Barry Ross Tinkler (AATTV)
Maj Trevor Ronald Phillips (HQAFV/AAAGV)

     British Empire Medal (BEM)

Sgt Bruce David Arthur Roach (709 Sig Tp)   
          Sgt Frederick Arthur Thompson
(104 Sig Sqn)

     Mention in Despatches (MiD)

Maj Keith Paul Morel (104 Sig Sqn)
Maj Peter Douglas Mudd (103 SIg Sqn)
Capt John Kenelm Byrnes (HQAFV)
Lt John Patrick Power (104 Sig Sqn)
2Lt Antony James Morris (AATTV)
WO1 John Joseph Hooker (547 Sig Tp)
WO2 Michael William Gill (AATTV)  [Killed in Action]
WO2 Terrence Sturges (104 Sig Sqn)
SSgt Luke John Thomas Cherry (4 Fd Regt/110 Sig Sqn)
Sgt Robert Bruce Crawford (110 Sig Sqn)
Sgt Lionel William Porter (110 Sig Sqn)
Cpl James Francis Lorraine (110 Sig Sqn)
Cpl Anthony Richard Williams (110 Sig Sqn)
LCpl Ray Albert Pratt (547 Sig Tp)

     Unit Citation for Gallantry (UCG)

Members of RASigs during the Battle of Coral Balmoral as part of the 1st Australian Task Force (Forward).  104 Sig Sqn (67 x members), 110 Sig Sqn (9 x members) and 547 Sig Tp (8 x members).  See www.coral-balmoral.au104.org for details and names.

United States of American Awards (Known RASigs Vietnam Only)

     Bronze Star with V for Valour

WO2 Michael William Gill (AATTV)  [Killed in Action]

     Legion of Merit

Maj Gen Douglas Vincent OBE MiD (Comd AFV)

     Army Commendation Medal for Service

Maj Kenneth James Redman (AATTV)
Capt Robert Alexander Baird (AATTV)
WO2 Thomas McNee (AATTV)
WO2 Geoffrey Ernest Munro (AATTV)

     Presidential Unit Citation
   
(
Note: Awarded for period Jan 1967 to 25 Feb 1968 (US Army Advisory Team 1, 3 and 4 ) and with 5th Special Forces Group,
     1st Special Forces for period from Nov 1966 to Jan 1968)

WO2 Mervyn Bede Cranston (AATTV, US Army Advisory Team 4)
WO2 Thomas McNee (AATTV, US Army AdvisoryTeam 3)

     Meritorious Unit Commendation  (Two Citations)
         Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV):
         Citation 1 for those members of the Team July 1962 to Aug 1969.
         US Army Individual Training Group (UITG) Forces Nationale Khmer (Fank) Training Command:

         Citation 2 for those members of the Team in UITG/FANK who served with the Long Hai and Phuoc Tuy Training
         Battalions Feb 1971 to 30 Nov 1972 and for Team members that service with 5th Special Forces Group form
        31 Jan to 31 Dec 1968 (43 awarded to AATTV members).   

Citation 1
Maj Barry Ross Tinkler (AATTV)
WO2 Maurice George Anstee
(AATTV)
WO2 Mervyn Bede Cranston (AATTV)
WO2 Athol Raymond Folbigg (AATTV)
WO2 Michael William Gill (AATTV)  [Killed in Action]

WO2 James Husband BEM
(AATTV)  Note: RASigs/RAInf
WO2 Colin Baxter Judd
(AATTV)
WO2 Kevin John Macpherson (AATTV)
WO2 Thomas McNee (AATTV)
WO2 Geoffrey Ernest Munro
(AATTV)
WO2 Donald Ernest Watts
(AATTV)
Citation 2
WO2 John Andrew James Gibson (AATTV)
WO2 Geoffrey Ernest Munro (AATTV)


 
Republic of Vietnam Awards (Known RASigs Vietnam Only)

     National Order of the Republic of Vietnam - Officer        

Maj Gen Douglas Vincent OBE MiD (Comd AFV)

     Gallantry Cross with Palm

Maj Gen Douglas Vincent OBE MiD (Comd AFV)

     Gallantry Cross with Silver Star

Maj Kenneth James Redman (AATTV)
Maj Barry Ross Tinkler (AATTV)
WO2 James Husband BEM (AATTV)  Note: RASigs/RAInf

     Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star

WO1 Lindsay Thomas Allen (AATTV)
WO2 Mervyn Bede Cranston (AATTV)

      Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation

       All RASigs South Vietnam Units/Members  (*) See below

     Armed Forces Honour Medal 1st Class 

Maj Brian Macpherson Edwards (HQAFV)
Maj Kenneth James Redman (AATTV)
Maj Desmond Richings Overstead (110 Sig Sqn)
Maj Barry Ross Tinkler (AATTV)
Capt Gary Robert Bell (HQAFV)
Capt David William Harding  (110 Sig Sqn)

Armed Forces Honour Medal 2nd Class

Maj Kenneth James Redman (AATTV)
WO1 Lindsay Thomas Allen (AATTV)
Cpl Anthony Michael Dawes
(104 Sig Sqn)

     Psychological Warfare Medal 1st Class

Capt Neil Leslie Horn (104 Sig Sqn)

     Civil Actions Medal 1st Class

Maj Hugh Clifford Franklin (HQAFV)
2Lt Malcolm Leslie Morrison (
1st Psychological Operation Unit)

     Civil Actions Medal 2nd Class

Cpl Arthur James Wilkinson (110 Sig Sqn)
LCpl Trevor Ronald Rowland (110 Sig Sqn)

     Staff Service Medal 1st Class

Maj Roland Paul Webb (AATTV)

 Training Service Medal 1st Class

WO2 John Andrew James Gibson (AATTV)

     
 Cambodian Awards (Known RASigs Vietnam Only)

     National Defence Medal with Bronze Star
       
        WO2 John Andrew James Gibson
(AATTV)

(*)  DHAAT recommeded the awarding of the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm Unit Citation in May 2022 to Australian Forces Vietnam (AFV) Army Units and was approval by the Australian Governnemt in August 2023.
Note: 547 Sig Tp had been approved earlier in Sept 2018.



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