Lot 3810

Description

Group of Six: General Service Medal 1962 - two bars - Borneo; Malay Peninsula; Vietnam Medal (M.I.D.); Bronze Star Medal (U.S.); Army Commendation Medal (U.S.); Cross of Gallantry with silver Star (Vietnam); Vietnamese Campaign Medal. 311492 A.B. Clutterbuck. First and second medals impressed. Sixth medal engraved, others unnamed. Court mounted for wear. Very fine.

MID: L.G. 13 July 1972 - 'For Distinguished Services in Vietnam.' Together with: Biographical details of his military career and copy of entry in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. Warrant Officer Class Two Clutterbuck enlisted in the Australian Regular Army in 1964. He had served with the Royal Australian Regiment in Australia, Malaysia and Vietnam. He joined the Australian Army Training Team in June 1970 for his second tour of duty in Vietnam. During his tour in Vietnam with the Australian Army Training Team, Warrant Officer Clutterbuck served as an adviser with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Regiment of the 1st Division (Army of the Republic of Vietnam). From 25 to 27 May 1971, the 2nd Battalion was engaged in an attack on a North Vietnamese Army fortified position on Dong A Tay Mountain in Thua Thien Province. Throughout the three day period of the attack Warrant Officer Clutterbuck frequently exposed himself to direct and indirect fire whilst directing serial rocket artillery onto the enemy positions. His cool and professional approach to this task assisted in repulsing a determined enemy counter attack onto the Army of the Republic of Vietnam Battalion position. At one stage during the 2nd Battalion's attack an enemy mortar round wounded the radio operator working with Warrant Officer Clutterbuck and destroyed the radio handset. Warrant Officer Class Two Clutterbuck immediately obtained another handset and without hesitation continued to direct the air support, although exposed to enemy fire. The attack culminated in a successful night assault onto the enemy position, with a total of almost 200 enemy being killed in the action. Warrant Officer Clutterbuck's sustained bravery,professionalism and calmness under fire over the three day period of the action contributed to a very large degree to the success of the operation. His actions reflect great credit on himself, the Australian Army Training Team and the Australian Army.