Australian Groups

Lot 3813       Australian Groups

Estimate $2,500
Bid at live.noble.com.au

GROUP OF FOUR: Bronze Cross (Rhodesia); General Service Medal (Rhodesia); Vietnam Medal; Vietnamese Campaign Medal. 727997/218795 P.M. Binion. Last medal engraved others impressed. Court mounted for display. Good very fine.

Together with: Australian Army Certificate of Service; Australian Army Medical Corps Certificate of Qualification as an instructor in field medical techniques; two congratulatory letters from the Rhodesian President and Commander of the Rhbodesian Army; a hand written narrative by recipient of his active service in Vietnam and Rhodesia; and Australian newspaper articles narrating his exploits in Rhodesia. The most notable gallantry award won by a Vietnam veteran during the Rhodesian War was by Peter Malcolm Binion who had previously served with 7RAR in Vietnam between 16 February 1970 to 31 March 1971. Binion's own account of his experiences during the bush war and the circumstances that led to the award of the Bronze Cross of Rhodesia were recorded by the Melbourne Truth on 1 and 8 March 1980:- Peter Binion's citation for the Bronze Cross tells of 'his remarkable courage and tenacity' during his service with the Rhodesian Light Infantry. Binion was awarded the Bronze Cross for two contacts with terrorists, but his citation mentions that he was involved with numerous contacts with the enemy and had personally accounted for numerous terrorists'. His citation states that he was second in command of a patrol on April 4 1979 when it swept towards a clump of rocks which concealed terrorists. As the patrol approached the rocks, the patrol commander was killed instantly at point blank range by the terrorists fire. Cpl Binion immediately put down cover fire for himself and under cover of fire from other members of the patrol he manoeuvred himself into a position where, at considerable risk to himself, he was able to kill the two terrorists. Shortly afterwards the patrol came under rocket fire from another terrorist and Cpl Binion, slightly wounded by shrapnel, was able to close with the terrorist and kill him. In another contact, in which six terrorists were killed, he accounted for four of them. Throughout these and other engagements, Cpl Binion has shown remarkable courage and tenacity. his desire to close with and kill the enemy is uppermost in his mind. His standard of professional soldiering and dedication to duty are of the highest order. After being awarded the Bronze Cross, Binion's war in Rhodesia got much hotter. On September 5 1979, the Rhodesians launched Operation URIC, the largest offensive of the War and a major pre-emptive strike into Mozambique. The aim of the operation was to cut off the terrorists' major supply route and to flatten the Mapai forward base area. Binion was part of the 140 man commando operation, being taken to within 6 kilometres of Mapai by helicopter before advancing into the attack on foot. The attack was a disaster with the SAS and Rhodesian Light Infantry being hopelessly outnumbered - against them were some 1,000 Russian advisers, 3,000 FRELIMO soldiers and at least 2,500 terrorists. A fierce four hour fire fight followed, before the Rhodesians were forced to withdraw. The intricate details of Binion's service in Rhodesia are startling to say the least. Compared with the number of contacts that he had in Vietnam (being two), Rhodesia was a continual battle. He joined the Rhodesian Light Infantry (Support Commando) in December 1976 after signing a three year contract, and during those years in Rhodesia had: - 276 fire fight contacts with terrorists; - 306 personal kills during those contacts; - was wounded four times by shrapnel; - was involved in seven external raids into Mozambique including TEMBUE I & II, and URIC; and was involved in five external raids into Zambia.