Awards from
OPERATION OVERLORD

Supplied to my buy Bob Buick

Army Number: 335151
Substantive Rank: Captain
Temporary Rank: Major
Christian Name: Ivan James
Surname: CAHILL
Honour or Award: MID

Major Ivan James Cahill graduated from The Royal Military College on 11 December 1963, and was allotted to The Royal Australian Infantry Corps. He joined the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, on 5 May 1970, and arrived in South Vietnam with the Battalion on 12 February 1971.

Major Cahill commanded B Company throughout its tour of duty in Vietnam which involved operations against two major enemy forces entrenched in bunker systems. On 7 June 1971, his company was engaged in a day long battle with the enemy in Long Khanh Province during Operation Overlord. On the second occasion, on 10 August 1971, his company encountered an enemy Company in the Xuyen Moc District and battled with the enemy for a period of two hours.

During these major engagements, Major Cahill displayed exceptional leadership and command ability in the tactical handling of his company. His coolness under fire, skilled employment of his platoon, and aggressive use of artillery and helicopter gunships were a major factor in the company maintaining its security and dislodging the enemy. His leadership and professional employment of his company over a sustained period reflect great credit upon himself, his Regiment and the Australian Army.

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Army Number: 235390
Substantive Rank: Lieutenant Christian
Name: Graham John
Surname: KELLS
Honour or Award: MC

Lieutenant Graham John Kelly graduated from the Royal Military College on 10 December 1969, and was allotted to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. He joined the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, on 16 March 1970, and arrived in South Vietnam with the Battalion on 12 February 1971.

On 7 June 1971, during Operation Overlord, Lieutenant Kelly was commanding 5th Platoon, B Company of the Battalion, when it came under heavy and accurate fire from a numerically superior enemy force situated in a large, well concealed bunker system. Throughout the ensuing eight hour battle, Lieutenant Kelly, without regard for his own safety, and whilst under heavy enemy fire, continually moved about his platoon, directing their fire, relocating machine guns to meet new threats, directing the employment of artillery fire and helicopter gunships and successfully directing the evacuation of six casualties.

His skilful management of his platoon and sound tactical decisions, together with his aggressive employment of artillery and air support during the long engagement, greatly reduced the effectiveness of the enemy's fire and prevented an enemy counter attack against the platoon perimeter. Lieutenant Kelly continued to display outstanding leadership during his tour and his coolness under fire, and complete disregard for his own personal safety, were an inspiration to all those under his command. His conduct reflects great credit upon himself, his Regiment and the Australian Army.

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Army Number; 61712
Substantive Rank; Private
Christian Name: Peter John
Surname: FYFE
Honour or Award: DCM

Private Peter John Fyfe enlisted in the Australian Army on 26 January 1966, and was allotted to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. He joined the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, on 20 January 1970, and arrived in South Vietnam with the Battalion on 12 February 1971. On 7 June 1971, during Operation Overlord, Private Fyfe was an acting Section Commander in 5th Platoon, B Company of the Battalion, when the platoon came under heavy and accurate fire from an enemy bunker system. Two members of the left forward section of the platoon were seriously wounded in this engagement and Private Fyfe was ordered to bring his section forward to bring fire onto the enemy to allow evacuation of the wounded.

Without hesitation and with complete disregard for his own personal safety, Private Fyfe led his section forward, positioned them and then moved himself to within ten metres of a bunker from which heavy machine gun and small arms fire was being received. Private Fyfe threw a number of grenades at the bunker and directed his section's fire to neutralise the bunker and thus allow evacuation of the wounded. Private Fyfe was wounded in the foot early in the action which lasted for more than four hours, but he refused medical treatment and continued to direct his section's fire against the enemy. During this period, Private Fyfe constantly exposed himself to enemy fire in his efforts to command his section and effect redistribution of their ammunition.

Private Fyfe's outstanding leadership, his complete disregard for his own personal safety and his insistence on remaining on duty during the battle although wounded, ensured such a measure of aggressiveness within his section as to be instrumental in allowing the platoon to successfully evacuate all the wounded and maintain the platoon perimeter during the long engagement against a numerically superior enemy force. His leadership and bravery, reflect great credit upon himself, his Regiment and the Australian Army.

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Army Number: 39567
Substantive Rank: Private
Temporary Rank: Corporal
Christian Name: Raymond
Surname: WALSH
Honour or Award: MM

Corporal Raymond Walsh enlisted in the Australian Army on 10 August 1967, and was allotted to the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps. He joined the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, on 10 April 1969, as a Medical Assistant. He was attached to B Company, and arrived in South Vietnam with the Battalion on 25 February 1971.

On 7 June 1971, during Operation Overload, B Company was involved in a day long engagement with a large enemy force entrenched in a well fortified bunker system. At about 1100 hours on that day, when a helicopter carrying ammunition crashed in the rear of the company area, Corporal Walsh dashed immediately to it and assisted the co-pilot and side-gunner away from the wreckage. Despite exploding ammunition in the helicopter which had caught fire, he then dragged out the body of the pilot who had been killed in the crash.

As he gave treatment to the wounded, Corporal Walsh was told that there was another soldier still in the helicopter. He immediately returned to search the still burning and exploding helicopter and he remained in the vicinity until the injured member was found on the far side of the helicopter. Then with assistance he helped to carry the injured member to safety and began treating him for his injuries. Corporal Walsh, by his immediate actions, saved the lives of three people. His coolness, bravery and complete disregard for his own personal safety in an extremely dangerous situation are qualities which he continued to display during his tour and reflect great credit upon himself, his Corps and the Australian Army.

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Army Number: 311639
Substantive Rank: Corporal
Christian Name: Trevor William
Surname: BYNG
Honour or Award: MID

Corporal Trevor William Byng enlisted in the Australian Army on 26 October 1970 and was allotted to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. He arrived in South Vietnam on 31 March 1971, and joined the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment on 12 May 1971. On 7 June 1971, during Operation Overlord, Corporal Byng was a Section Commander with B Company of the Battalion when the company was involved in an eight hour engagement with an entrenched enemy force in a bunker system.

At about 1100 hours on that day, when an ammunition supply helicopter crashed in the rear of the company area, Corporal Byng immediately went to the helicopter and assisted another member of the company to get the injured crew clear of the wreckage. He then returned to the helicopter to unload the urgently needed ammunition for his company. By now the helicopter had caught fire and the ammunition aboard was exploding, but despite this dangerous situation, he calmly and without hesitation entered the helicopter and began unloading the ammunition. As he was clearing the ammunition from the area, Corporal Byng was informed that there was still another soldier in the burning helicopter. He then returned to search the helicopter. Ammunition inside the helicopter was still exploding and it was expected that the helicopter would also explode at any moment, but Corporal Byng remained in the vicinity until he found the injured member on the far side of the helicopter. Then, with assistance, he carried the injured member to safety. By his courageous actions, Corporal Byng helped to save the lives of the helicopter crew and a passenger and ensured that his company received urgently needed ammunition. His bravery and complete disregard for his own personal safety in an extremely dangerous situation are qualities which he continued to display throughout his tour and reflect great credit upon himself, his regiment and the Australian Army.

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Army Number: 4721506
Substantive Rank: Private
Christian Name: Robert Ward
Surname: PAYNE
Honour or Award: MM

Private Robert Ward Payne enlisted in the Australian Army on 28 January 1970, and was allotted to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. He joined the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, on 22 February 1971, and arrived in South Vietnam with the Battalion on 25 February 1971. On 7 June 1971, during Operation Overlord, Private Payne was a member of 5th Platoon, B Company of the Battalion, when the platoon came under heavy and accurate fire from an enemy bunker system. Two members in Private Payne's section were seriously wounded in the initial engagement.

Private Payne, without hesitation, and with complete disregard for his own safety, moved forward under heavy enemy fire to assist one of the casualties who had been shot in the throat and become entangled in vines. Realising that the critically wounded soldier was bleeding profusely, Private Payne rendered immediate first aid.

However, further heavy enemy fire directed at Private Payne at this time, resulted in him being ordered back to the section area. Private Payne withdrew, but knowing that the wounded solder was still entangled in vines and would bleed to death if not extracted quickly, rushed forward again under heavy fire and with the aid of another soldier dragged the wounded soldier back to the platoon perimeter. Private Payne's great courage and complete disregard for his own safety, undoubtedly saved the life of the wounded man, and were an inspiration to all ranks. He continued to display exemplary conduct during his tour and this reflects great credit upon himself, his Regiment and the Australian Army.