FROM THE ADMIRALTY
Whitehall, London S.W.I.
20th December 1963.
.........The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards for gallant and distinguished services in operations in the Borneo Territories during the period 24th December 1962 to 23rd June 1963:
The Military Medal
Marine (Acting Lance Corporal) Douglas John Radford, R.M. 19037, Royal Marines.
.........Marine (Acting Lance Corporal) Radford was on active service with 40 Commando Royal Marines in Sarawak from March to May 1963. On 23rd April he was in charge of a Surveillance Patrol of five men and a policeman in a school hut just outside Kampong Gumbang, close to the Indonesian border.
.........In the early hours of the morning, in particularly dark and misty conditions, his outpost was attacked by about eight men using grenades., shotguns and automatic weapons, backed up by a further thirty armed men.
.........Although surrounded and in a position difficult to defend, Marine Radford rallied his men, one of whom was wounded. By his coolness and determination, he drove the enemy back, inflicted several casualties and1 prevented his small force from being over-run by superior numbers. Subsequent intelligence revealed that the enemy suffered five casualties, two of whom died.
.........By his gallant and distinguished service in the face of an enemy attack in superior numbers Marine Radford set a fine example. It was largely due to the steadiness and confidence of this young non-commissioned officer that the people in the area hold the British soldier in such high regard as a fighting man.
Mention in Despatches
Second Lieutenant (Acting Lieutenant) James Nigel Best, Royal Marines.
Sergeant Dennis Smith, R.M. 7626, Royal Marines.
Colour Sergeant Reginald Charles Locke, R.M. 9137, Royal Marines.