BAR TO THE MILITARY MEDAL

WHITE, Albert Mitchell, Private (3/400816),
3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, 1953

Private White was a Bren gunner in a fighting patrol of seventeen men which was attacked on the night of 25/26 May 1953 by two groups of enemy, each of approximately twenty men. As the first enemy group approached to close quarters, Private White stood up, regardless of the enemy's fire, and fired his gun from the hip, at the same time shouting encouragement to his comrades. There is no doubt that it was largely due to his action on this occasion that the enemy was dispersed. A short while later, when the second enemy group attacked the patrol, Private White produced accurate fire from an exposed position and so inspired and encouraged the rest of the patrol that they held their ground in spite of suffering severe casualties. Because of these casualties the patrol was ordered to withdraw shortly afterwards. During the withdrawal it again made contact with enemy soldiers who were attempting to encircle it. Despite being wounded, Private White quickly placed himself where the threat was greatest and engaged the enemy so skilfully and with such a volume of fire that he was largely responsible for preventing the enemy from pressing home his encircling movement. The initiative, aggressiveness and complete disregard for his own safety that Private White displayed throughout the action proved an outstanding example to the rest of the patrol and contributed significantly to the heavy casualties inflicted on the enemy and the successful extrication of the patrol.