creek. Receiving orders to close with the enemy, Lance Corporal McCarthy at once led his section in a charge, his men firing from the hip and throwing grenades. So sudden and determined was Lance Corporal McCarthy's charge that the enemy fled in confusion, leaving two dead and two badly wounded in their ambush position. He then pursued the enemy soldiers back towards their main positions, hurling his remaining grenades and finally firing a magazine from his Owen gun into their midst. On his way back to his section, Lance Corporal McCarthy came face-to-face with an armed Chinese soldier. Seizing him by the throat, Lance Corporal McCarthy disarmed him, removing a rifle and three grenades and, with his prisoner, rejoined his patrol commander. Lance Corporal McCarthy's quick thinking, inspired leadership and great courage were an example to all, and contributed largely to the successful accomplishment of the mission with which his patrol was entrusted.

McCRINDLE, Ronald John, Lance Corporal (2/400620),
1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, 1952

Lance Corporal McCrindle was a member of twenty-five patrols against the enemy, several times acting as patrol commander. On most occasions he acted as forward scout and was a constant source of inspiration to his men, always remaining cool and decisive and showing complete disregard for his own personal safety. When his section defensive position was under heavy shellfire he moved from bunker to bunker, encouraging his men and inspiring confidence. On the night of 12/13 September 1952, Corporal McCrindle's section met an enemy ambush of superior strength. On contact, Corporal McCrindle instantly deployed his section and organised a grenade barrage and section assault, which he fearlessly led straight at the enemy, lying in ambush. So devastating were his section's grenades and so determined the assault that the enemy broke and fled, screaming with fear. This courageous action killed three of the enemy and resulted in one being captured without loss to the patrol. This patrol victory was so successful that the morale and the aggressive spirit of the company were significantly raised. On the night of 21/22 September 1952, Corporal McCrindle was a member of a fighting patrol. During an engagement with the enemy the patrol commander was killed. Corporal McCrindle quickly took command of the patrol and, in spite of the disorganisation and the presence of an enemy party in the area, successfully evacuated the patrol commander's body to friendly lines. Corporal McCrindle's coolness under fire, aggression action against the enemy and his complete disregard for his own safety served as an inspiration to all those around him.