Orders, Decorations & Medals - Other Properties - Aus

Lot 3724    SESSION 13 (2.30PM THURSDAY 2ND APRIL)    Orders, Decorations & Medals - Other Properties - Aust.

Estimate $10,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $9,500

MM FOR KOREA: Group of Six: Military Medal (EIIR BR:OMN); Defence Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45; Korea Medal 1950-53; General Service Medal 1918-62 (EIIR), - clasp - Malaya; United Nations Korea Medal 1950-53. 1/400604 L/Cpl. K.H.Crockford. R.Aust.R. on first medal, 151346. K.H.Crockford on second and third medals, 1/400604 K.H.Crockford on fourth and sixth medals, 1/4004 K.H.Crockford. on fifth medal. All medals impressed. Court mounted, very fine.

Only 45 MMs awarded to Australians for Korea.

MM: LG 27/10/1953, p5718; CAG 29/10/1953, p2927 to 1400604 L/Cpl K.H.Crockford 2Bn RAR.

An immediate award by C-in-C, B.C.F.K. 20Aug1953. Presented by His Excellency Sir John Lavarack, Governor of Queensland, at Government House Brisbane on 20Apr1955

Citation: On the night of 25th-26th July, 1953, Lance Corporal Crockford was commanding the section of six men holding the Contact Bunker between Hill 111, the right flank of the United States 1st Marine Division, and Hill 121, on which was situated the left flank position of his own battalion.

Immediately after a very heavy enemy artillery barrage, which covered the whole area, a fierce assault was made by an enemy company. In the bitter hand to hand fighting in the trenches around his position, Lance Corporal Crockford skilfully and coolly directed the fire of his section, with complete disregard for his own safety and with such effect that the enemy was prevented from isolating the two hills.

Realising that there were still many enemy in the area after the first assault, this non-commissioned officer called for artillery fire, himself giving the necessary corrections. His accurate control was most effective.

Throughout the night Lance Corporal Crockford never ceased radioing information to his battalion. Much of this information he gained only by moving some hundred yards through continuous heavy shell fire to the Marine CP on Hill 111, whose own communications had been cut. His information was of inestimable value.

Lance Corporal Crockford displayed outstanding determination, tenacity and leadership throughout the action and his cool appraisal of the situation, combined with his refusal to be dismayed, were beyond praise.

Kenneth Humber Crockford, panel beater, born 21Jun1925 at Brisbane, Qld; WWII: Enl.04Feb1944 at Brisbane, Qld in RAAF; Disch.14Feb1946 as Leading Aircraftman ex 6 Aircraft Depot; Korean War: Enl.11Mar1952 at Brisbane, Qld in Royal Aust Infy Corps; after basic recruit training at Ingleburn, NSW he was posted to 1 Reinforcement Holding Unit at Harahaura, Japan; he was then posted to Charlie Coy of 2RAR and trained with the Canadian Army in May 1953 and completed a Junior NCO Course; 2RAR then moved to Korea; served in Korea with 2RAR; RTA 13Oct1953; in Mar1955 admitted to Greenslopes Royal General Hospital suffering from delayed action shock (PTSD); released in Aug1955 and rejoined 2RAR for duty in Malaya; engaged in ops around Kedah and the pipeline where the forward scout was killed; in 1957 returned to Enoggera and Wacol in Qld to train National Servicemen; Disch.25Feb1957 in Brisbane, Qld and settled at Morayfield near Caboolture in Qld.

In an account of his service Kenneth Crockford recalls his first action in Korea as follows. 'On 06Jun1953 L/Cpl Crockford was on patrol with Sgt W.J.Bruce when about 20 Chinese ambushed them as they moved from a deep valley up to a feature. The enemy waited until the leading scouts of the patrol moved into the apex of the valley and then opened fire with light machine guns, burp guns, and percussion grenades. There were six casualties and L/Cpl Crockford was wounded in the knee. The enemy ran over the top of him and captured him but as the fighting continued he was able to escape up the feature to safety. The battle continued and ultimately six enemy were killed and Sgt Bruce was awarded an MM.' He also states in his recollections of Hill 111 and 121, 'It was a horrible experience to fight hand to hand in the trenches and with four young soldiers who had not fired a shot. It was frightening for all of them to see many Chinese attacking with flame throwers, burp guns and percussion grenades.'

With research.