Lot 3818

Description

Trio: General Service Medal (Rhodesia); Vietnam Medal; Vietnamese General Service Medal. 729798/56004 R.L. Thornton. Second medal engraved, others impressed. Court mounted for display. Very fine.

Together with: Unit Citation of the Cross of Gallantry with Palm (Vietnam); S.A.S. lapel badge; I.D. discs; miniature Rhodesian Medal; medal ribbon bar; Para qualification badge; photograph of recipient; Army Form AAB83 -Regimental Record of Service (which confirms his service in the AATTV and SASR and discharge as A/Cpl RAAMC); Australian Army Certificate of Service; Australian Military Forces Record of Service;Australian Army Discharge Procedure Form; and service papers relating to his service in the Rhodesian Army (SAS). Corporal Robert Leslie Thornton served with the Australian Regular Army from 21 April 1969 to 20 April 1978. In September 1970 whilst a corporal in the RAAMC, he volunteered for overseas service in Vietnam. After being accepted, he was posted to MATT3 (Mobile Advisory Training Team 3) AATTV near the Long Hai hills, attached to the ARVN 302 Regional Force Battalion. During his twelve months of active service, Corporal Thornton was involved in eleven signifcant contacts with local Vietcong forces and on one occasion North Vietnamese Regulars. Being of an adventurous nature, he made the most of peace-time soldiering on his return from Vietnam. He passed the SAS cadre course in 1971 and remained with 1 Squadron of that unit until his discharge in April 1978. Within three months, Thornton was on the posted strength of 1 Squadron Rhodesian SAS.