including himself, in position. The remainder of the patrol was moving to its position nearby when it was heavily engaged at close quarters by enemy small arms fire and grenades. Lieutenant Lloyd immediately directed the fire of his group onto the enemy to cover the withdrawal of the remainder of the patrol. At this stage, communications between the two groups failed and Lieutenant Lloyd, believing that the remainder of the patrol was unable to disengage, led an assault on the enemy position. Notwithstanding intense enemy fire, he pressed home his attack against superior numbers until he was certain that the remainder of the patrol was clear. During the assault he was twice wounded. Lieutenant Lloyd then directed artillery fire onto the enemy position and, after reorganising his patrol, withdrew to his own lines without further casualties. Lieutenant Lloyd's courage and initiative as a patrol commander and the ever-present cheerfulness and efficiency of his men under the most adverse of circumstances have proven him a leader of outstanding ability.

LUCAS, Gilmer John, Lieutenant (3/40105),
1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, 1952

Since joining this unit in October 1951, Lieutenant Lucas's conduct has been outstanding. On 2 July 1952, as a rifle platoon commander given the task of destroying enemy bunkers, he took part in a daylight raid on Hill 227. As the bunkers had been collapsed by artillery fire, Lieutenant Lucas, after directing flamethrowers into the bunker entrances, commenced to dig though the top of one of them. Although in full view of the enemy post and under heavy medium machine-gun fire and badly shaken by an explosion inside the bunker, Lieutenant Lucas continued with his work and, at the same time, organised a party to dig through the roof of the second bunker. He ceased his efforts only when ordered to withdraw. On the night of 12/13 August 1952, Lieutenant Lucas was commanding an ambush patrol which was engaged by superior enemy forces from three sides. Having inflicted serious casualties on the enemy, he successfully withdrew his own patrol including two wounded soldiers. Late in October 1952 Lieutenant Lucas took command of the assault pioneer platoon. As a result of the enemy attack on Kowang San on the night of 23/24 October, many of the minefield fences had been blown away by shellfire and it was dangerous for friendly troops to patrol forward of their lines. Lieutenant Lucas, during his first fifteen days in this area, carried out personal reconnaissance of the minefields. This reconnaissance was conducted over difficult terrain, with little information and despite aggressive enemy patrolling. It was largely due to his efforts that the minefields were made safe for friendly patrols to successfully engage the enemy.