BLAMEY, JACK MURRAY
Captain, Australian Imperial Force
Date of Action: November 1942
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Jack Murray Blamey, Captain, Royal Australian Imperial Forces, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Buna-Gona area of New Guinea during the month of November, 1942.
Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 54 (December 3, 1942)
Home Town: Manly, New South Wales, Australia
BLAMEY, SIR THOMAS
General, Australian Army
Commander, Allied Land Forces, Southwest Pacific
Date of Action: July 23, 1942 - January 8, 1943
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Sir Thomas Blamey, General, Royal Australian Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in New Guinea, during the Papuan Campaign, July 23, 1942, to January 8, 1943. As Commander, Allied Land Forces, Southwest Pacific Area, General Blarney displayed extraordinary courage, marked efficiency and precise execution of operations during the Papuan Campaign.
Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943)
Home Town: Australia
EARP, FREDERICK W.
Flight Sergeant, Royal Australian Air Force
93d Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group, U.S. Army Air Force (Attached)
Date of Action: August 6 - 7, 1942
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Frederick W. Earp, Flight Sergeant, Royal Australian Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in action between Queensland, Australia and Rabaul, New Britain, on August 6 -7, 1942. When the airplane, in which he was co-pilot, returned to its base in Queensland, Australia, from a bombing mission at Lae, New Guinea, because of a disabled engine, Flight Sergeant Earp, knowing that his group was to execute on the following day an important mission in which the participation of every available airplane was essential, volunteered to accompany his airplane commander on this mission in an airplane which had been declared unserviceable for combat duty. Rejoining his squadron at Port Moresby, New Guinea, after having flown almost continuously during the preceding nineteen hours, he took off, after only three hours rest, in a mass attack by his group on an enemy-occupied airdrome near Rabaul, New Britain. Despite interception by about thirty enemy fighters as the target was approached, the group made a highly successful bombing attack. During the hostile fighter action, the airplane in which Flight Sergeant Earp was a crew member, was on the wing which bore the brunt of the enemy attack lasting for twenty-five minutes. It was observed to drop a blazing bomb-bay tank and fall behind the formation. It did not return to its base.
Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 34 (September 15, 1942)
Home Town: Penrith, New South Wales, Australia
EATHER, KENNETH W.
Brigadier, Australian Army
Commander, 25th Infantry Brigade
Date of Action: July 23, 1942 - January 9, 1943
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Kenneth W. Eather, Brigadier, Royal Australian Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in New Guinea, during the Papuan campaign, July 23, 1942, to January 8, 1943. As Commander 25th Infantry Brigade, Australian Army, Brigadier Eather displayed extraordinary courage, marked efficiency and precise execution of operations during the Papuan campaign.
Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943)
Home Town: Australia
GARING, WILLIAM H.
Group Captain, Royal Australian Air Force
Commander, Number 9 Operational Group
Date of Action: July 23, 1942 - January 8, 1943
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William H. Garing, Group Captain, Royal Australian Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in action in New Guinea, during the Papuan Campaign, July 23, 1942 to January 8, 1943. As Commander, Number 9 Operational Group, Royal Australian Air Force, Group Captain Garing displayed extraordinary courage, marked efficiency and precise execution of operations during the Papuan Campaign.
Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943)
Home Town: Australia
HENSTRIDGE, HECTOR D.
Lieutenant, Australian Imperial Force
25th Liaison Squadron
Date of Action: February 17 - March 12, 1944
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Hector D. Henstridge, Lieutenant, Royal Australian Imperial Forces, for extraordinary heroism in action near Dumpu, New Guinea, from 17 February to 12 March 1944. Lieutenant Henstridge voluntarily descended by parachute into a jungle behind enemy lines to rescue an officer and a soldier of the United States Army Air Force. With full knowledge of the dangers of the jungle and of possible enemy patrols, he made his first parachute jump, after which he led his comrades to safety in a hazardous twenty-four day march. By his heroic action, Lieutenant Henstridge not only saved two lives, but in addition he contributed significantly to our knowledge of the territory through which he traveled.
Home Town: Unley, Australia
HERRING, EDMUND F.
Lieutenant General, Australian Army
Commander, New Guinea Force
Date of Action: July 23, 1942 - January 8, 1943
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Edmund F. Herring, Lieutenant General, Royal Australian Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in New Guinea, during the Papuan Campaign, July 23, 1942 to January 8, 1943. As Commander, New Guinea Force, Lieutenant General Herring displayed extraordinary courage, marked efficiency and precise execution of operations during the Papuan Campaign.
Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943)
Home Town: Australia
MACFARLAN, D. S.
Paymaster-Lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve
Coast Watcher, Lunga Point, Guadalcanal
Date of Action: May 1 - October 1, 1942
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to D. S. MacFarlan, Paymaster-Lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Southwest Pacific Area during the period from May 1, 1942 to October 1, 1942. (A complete citation of the actions for which award to this officer is cannot be published at this time for reasons of a military secrecy).
NOTE: No evidence of a subsequent complete citation is available. Paymaster-Lieutenant MacFarlan was a Coast Watcher (Project Ferdinand). He manned an outpost on Gold Ridge overlooking Lunga Point on Guadalcanal for the period specified in his citation, reporting daily on Japanese activity.
Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 41 (October 7, 1942)
Home Town: Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia
MASON, P. E.
Petty Officer, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve
Coast Watcher, Malabite Hill, Buin, Bogainville
Date of Action: March 30 - October 1, 1942
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to P. E. Mason, Petty Officer, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Southwest Pacific Area during the period from March 30, 1942 to October 1, 1942. (A complete citation of the actions for which the award to this officer is made cannot be published at this time for reasons of military secrecy.)
NOTE: No evidence of a subsequent complete citation is available. Petty Officer Mason was a Coast Watcher (Project Ferdinand). He manned an outpost on Malabite Hill overlooking Buin on Bogainville Island for the period specified in his citation, reporting daily on Japanese activity.
Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 41 (October 7, 1942)
Home Town: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
MATHESON, DONALD G.
Lieutenant Colonel, Australian Imperial Force
Liaison Officer, G-3, II Island Command
Date of Action: December 19 - 27, 1943
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Donald G. Matheson, Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Australian Imperial Forces, for extraordinary heroism, during the period from December 19 to December 27, 1943, on Guadalcanal. Lieutenant Colonel Matheson volunteered to lead a patrol consisting of one other officer and four native scouts on a hazardous reconnaissance mission over a difficult mountain range. The patrol succeeded in locating several trails, each of which was scouted in order to select the best route over the mountains. While en route the patrol passed through and in the rear of the enemy lines, locating, among other things, the positions of some one thousand of the enemy. The area in which the enemy were located could not be reached by artillery or naval gun fire and was concealed from air observation. Consequently the position of this heavy concentration of enemy troops would not have been located had it not been for the efforts of this patrol. This, and much other valuable information obtained by the patrol, after traveling a distance of over ninety miles, were used later and aided greatly in the success of operations in the area.
Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 67 (March 20, 1943)
Home Town: Perth, Australia
OWEN, WILLIAM T.
Lieutenant Colonel, Australian Military Force
39th Australian Infantry Battalion
Date of Action: July 27, 1942
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William T. Owen, Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Australian Military Forces, for extraordinary heroism in action near Kokoda, New Guinea, on July 27, 1942. While commanding an infantry battalion, which was opposing the enemy advance, Lieutenant Colonel Owen, although facing far superior numbers of enemy troops, directed his men so effectively as to extract a heavy toll of the enemy forces and considerably delay their advance. His courageous and inspiring personal example was in great measure responsible for this vigorous opposition to the enemy attack. Lieutenant Colonel Owen was seriously wounded in this action and later died of his wounds.
Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 11 (January 22, 1943)
Home Town: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
READ, J. W.
Lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve
Coast Watcher, Buka Passage
Date of Action: March 16 - October 1, 1942
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to J. W. Read, Lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Southwest Pacific Area during the period from March 16, 1942 to October 1, 1942. (A complete citation of the actions for which the award to this officer is made cannot be published at this time for reasons of military secrecy).
NOTE: No evidence of a subsequent complete citation is available. Lieutenant Read was a Coast Watcher (Project Ferdinand). He manned an outpost overlooking the Buka Passage on the north side of Bogainville Island for the period specified in his citation, reporting daily on Japanese air and ship activity.
Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 41 (October 7, 1942)
Home Town: Dandenong, Victoria, Australia
RHOADES, F. A.
Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve
Coast Watcher, Lavoro, Guadalcanal
Date of Action: June 20 - October 1, 1942
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to F. A. Rhoades, Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in action in the Southwest Pacific Area, during the period from June 20, 1942 to October 1, 1942. (A complete citation of the actions for which the award to this officer is made cannot be published at this time for reasons of military secrecy.)
NOTE: No evidence of a subsequent complete citation is available. Sub-Lieutenant Rhodes was a Coast Watcher (Project Ferdinand). He manned an outpost at Lavoro on Guadalcanal where he had previously manned a plantation, for the period specified in his citation, reporting daily on Japanese activity.
Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 41 (October 7, 1942)
Home Town: Australia
VASEY, GEORGE A.
Major General, Australian Army
Commander, 7th Division
Date of Action: July 23, 1942 - January 8, 1943
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to George A. Vasey, Major General, Royal Australian Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in New Guinea, during the Papuan Campaign, July 23, 1942 to January 8, 1943. As Commander, Seventh Division, Australian Army, Major General Vasey displayed extraordinary courage, marked efficiency and precise execution of operations during the Papuan Campaign.
Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943)
Home Town: Australia
VIAL, LEIGH H.
Pilot Officer, Royal Australian Air Force
Coast Watcher, Salamaua, New Guinea
Date of Action: February 15 - August 13, 1942
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Leigh H. Vial, Pilot Officer, Royal Australian Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in action in New Guinea during the period from February 15, 1942 to August 13, 1942. (A complete citation of the actions for which the award to this officer is made cannot be published at this time for reasons of military secrecy.)
NOTE: No evidence of a subsequent complete citation is available. Pilot Officer Vial was a Coast Watcher (Project Ferdinand). He manned an outpost in the hills above the Salamaua airfield on New Guinea for the period specified in his citation, reporting daily on Japanese aircraft activity.
Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 33 (September 12, 1942)
Home Town: Camberwell, Victoria, Australia
WALKER, IAN W.
Lieutenant, Australian Imperial Force
2/7 Battalion
Date of Action: December 5, 1942
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to Ian W. Walker, Lieutenant, Royal Australian Imperial Forces, for extraordinary heroism in action near Buna, New Guinea, on December 5, 1942. During an attack on strongly held enemy positions in which a Bren Gun Carrier Section was put out of action, Lieutenant Walker went forward under heavy enemy fire to the disabled carriers, which were located about half way between the enemy and our own lines, to remove the guns and ammunition from the disabled carriers. After he had reached the first three carriers and removed the guns and ammunition, he ordered nearby gunners to keep up their fire and told the enlisted men, who had accompanied him, to return to our lines. Lieutenant Walker then went forward, armed with a submachine gun and under heavy enemy fire, in an attempt to reach a fourth gun carrier to save the guns and ammunition from it. He was mortally wounded during this action and died shortly after returning to our lines.
Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 7 (January 15, 1943)
Home Town: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
WOOTEN, GEORGE F.
Brigadier, Australian Army
Commander, 18th Infantry Brigade
Date of Action: July 23, 1942 - January 3, 1943
Citation:
The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to George F. Wooten, Brigadier, Royal Australian Army, for extraordinary heroism in action in New Guinea, during the Papuan Campaign, July 23, 1942 to January 3, 1943 As Commander, 18th Infantry Brigade, Australian Army, Brigadier Wooten displayed extraordinary courage, marked efficiency and precise execution of operations during the Papuan Campaign.
Headquarters, Southwest Pacific, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943)
Home Town: Australia
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