Full Text Citations For Award of

The Distinguished Service Cross
 Australian Recipients - WWII 

To All Who Shall See These Presents Greeting: This is to Certify that The President of the United States of America Takes Pride in Presenting THE  DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS to *BLAMEY, JACK MURRAY (KIA) Citation: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Jack Murray Blamey, Captain, Australian Imperial Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, in action against enemy forces in the Buna-Gona area of New Guinea during the month of November, 1942. Headquarters: South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 54 (December 3, 1942) Home Town: Manly, New South Wales, Australia BLAMEY, SIR THOMAS Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Sir Thomas Blamey, General, Australian Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, in action against enemy forces in New Guinea, during the Papuan Campaign, 23 July 1942, to 8 January 1943. As Commander, Allied Land Forces, Southwest Pacific Area, General Blarney displayed extraordinary courage, marked efficiency and precise execution of operations during the Papuan Campaign. Headquarters: South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943) Home Town: Australia *EARP, FREDERICK W. (KIA) Citation: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Frederick W. Earp, Flight Sergeant, Royal Australian Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with 93d Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group (H), U.S. Army Air Force (Attached), in action between Queensland, Australia and Rabaul, New Britain, on 6 - 7 August 1942. When the airplane, in which he was co-pilot, returned to its base in Queensland, Australia, from a bombing mission at Lae, New Guinea, because of a disabled engine, Flight Sergeant Earp, knowing that his group was to execute on the following day an important mission in which the participation of every available airplane was essential, volunteered to accompany his airplane commander on this mission in an airplane which had been declared unserviceable for combat duty. Rejoining his squadron at Port Moresby, New Guinea, after having flown almost continuously during the preceding nineteen hours, he took off, after only three hours rest, in a mass attack by his group on an enemy-occupied airdrome near Rabaul, New Britain. Despite interception by about thirty enemy fighters as the target was approached, the group made a highly successful bombing attack. During the hostile fighter action, the airplane in which Flight Sergeant Earp was a crew member, was on the wing which bore the brunt of the enemy attack lasting for twenty- five minutes. It was observed to drop a blazing bomb-bay tank and fall behind the formation. It did not return to its base. Headquarters: South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 34 (September 15, 1942) Home Town: Penrith, New South Wales, Australia EATHER, KENNETH W. Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Kenneth W. Eather, Brigadier, Australian Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in action against enemy forces in New Guinea, during the Papuan campaign, 23 July 1942 to 8 January 1943. As Commander 25th Infantry Brigade, Australian Army, Brigadier Eather displayed extraordinary courage, marked efficiency and precise execution of operations during the Papuan campaign. Headquarters: South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943) Home Town: Australia GARING, WILLIAM H. Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to William H. Garing, Group Captain, Royal Australian Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in action against enemy forces in New Guinea, during the Papuan Campaign, 23 July 1942 to 8 January 1943. As Commander, Number 9 Operational Group, Royal Australian Air Force, Group Captain Garing displayed extraordinary courage, marked efficiency and precise execution of operations during the Papuan Campaign. Headquarters: South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943) Home Town: Australia HENSTRIDGE, HECTOR D. Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Hector D. Henstridge, Lieutenant, Australian Imperial Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with 25th Liaison Squadron, near Dumpu, New Guinea, from 17 February to 12 March 1944. Lieutenant Henstridge voluntarily descended by parachute into a jungle behind enemy lines to rescue an officer and a soldier of the United States Army Air Force. With full knowledge of the dangers of the jungle and of possible enemy patrols, he made his first parachute jump, after which he led his comrades to safety in a hazardous twenty-four day march. By his heroic action, Lieutenant Henstridge not only saved two lives, but in addition he contributed significantly to our knowledge of the territory through which he traveled. Home Town: Unley, Australia HERRING, EDMUND F. Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Edmund F. Herring, Lieutenant General, Australian Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in action against enemy forces in New Guinea, during the Papuan Campaign, 23 July 1942 to 8 January 1943. As Commander, New Guinea Force, Lieutenant General Herring displayed extraordinary courage, marked efficiency and precise execution of operations during the Papuan Campaign. Headquarters: South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943) Home Town: Australia MACFARLAN, D. S. Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to D. S. McFarland, Paymaster-Lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy as a Coast Watcher in action against enemy forces in the Southwest Pacific Area during the period from 1 May 1942 to 1 October 1942. (A complete citation of the actions for which award to this officer is cannot be published at this time for reasons of a military secrecy).  NOTE: No evidence of a subsequent complete citation is available. Paymaster-Lieutenant MacFarlan was a Coast Watcher (Project Ferdinand). He manned an outpost on Gold Ridge overlooking Lunga Point on Guadalcanal for the period specified in his citation, reporting daily on Japanese activity. Headquarters: South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 41 (October 7, 1942) Home Town: Ashfield, New South Wales, Australia MASON, P. E. Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to P. E. Mason, Petty Officer, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy as a Coast Watcher in action against enemy forces in the Southwest Pacific Area during the period from 30 March 1942 to 1 October 1942. (A complete citation of the actions for which the award to this officer is made cannot be published at this time for reasons of military secrecy.)  NOTE: No evidence of a subsequent complete citation is available. Petty Officer Mason was a Coast Watcher (Project Ferdinand). He manned an outpost on Malabite Hill overlooking Buin on Bogainville Island for the period specified in his citation, reporting daily on Japanese activity. Headquarters: South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 41 (October 7, 1942) Home Town: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia MATHESON, DONALD G. Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Donald G. Matheson, Lieutenant Colonel, Australian Imperial Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, during the period from 19 December to 27 December 1943, on Guadalcanal, while serving as Liaison Officer (G-3), II Island Command. Lieutenant Colonel Matheson volunteered to lead a patrol consisting of one other officer and four native scouts on a hazardous reconnaissance mission over a difficult mountain range. The patrol succeeded in locating several trails, each of which was scouted in order to select the best route over the mountains. While en route the patrol passed through and in the rear of the enemy lines, locating, among other things, the positions of some one thousand of the enemy. The area in which the enemy were located could not be reached by artillery or naval gun fire and was concealed from air observation. Consequently the position of this heavy concentration of enemy troops would not have been located had it not been for the efforts of this patrol. This, and much other valuable information obtained by the patrol, after traveling a distance of over ninety miles, were used later and aided greatly in the success of operations in the area. Headquarters: South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 67 (March 20, 1943) Home Town: Perth, Australia *OWEN, WILLIAM T. (KIA) Citation: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to William T. Owen, Lieutenant Colonel, Australian Military Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, in action against enemy forces near Kokoda, New Guinea, on 27 July 1942. While commanding the 39th Australian Infantry Battalion, which was opposing the enemy advance, Lieutenant Colonel Owen, although facing far superior numbers of enemy troops, directed his men so effectively as to extract a heavy toll of the enemy forces and considerably delay their advance. His courageous and inspiring personal example was in great measure responsible for this vigorous opposition to the enemy attack. Lieutenant Colonel Owen was seriously wounded in this action and later died of his wounds. Headquarters: South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 11 (January 22, 1943) Home Town: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia READ, J. W. Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to J. W. Read, Lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy as a Coast Watcher in action against enemy forces in the Southwest Pacific Area during the period from 16 March 1942 to 1 October 1942. (A complete citation of the actions for which the award to this officer is made cannot be published at this time for reasons of military secrecy).  NOTE: No evidence of a subsequent complete citation is available. Lieutenant Read was a Coast Watcher (Project Ferdinand). He manned an outpost overlooking the Buka Passage on the north side of Bogainville Island for the period specified in his citation, reporting daily on Japanese air and ship activity. Headquarters: South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 41 (October 7, 1942) Home Town: Dandenong, Victoria, Australia RHOADES, F. A. Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to F. A. Rhoades, Sub-Lieutenant, Royal Australian Naval Voluntary Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy as a Coast Watcher in action against enemy forces in the Southwest Pacific Area during the period from 20 June 1942 to 1 October 1942. (A complete citation of the actions for which the award to this officer is made cannot be published at this time for reasons of military secrecy.)  NOTE: No evidence of a subsequent complete citation is available. Sub-Lieutenant Rhodes was a Coast Watcher (Project Ferdinand). He manned an outpost at Lavoro on Guadalcanal where he had previously manned a plantation, for the period specified in his citation, reporting daily on Japanese activity. Headquarters: South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 41 (October 7, 1942) Home Town: Australia VASEY, GEORGE A. Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to George A. Vasey, Major General, Australian Army, for extraordinary heroism in action against enemy forces in New Guinea, during the Papuan Campaign, 23 July 1942 to 8 January 1943. As Commander, Seventh Division, Australian Army, Major General Vasey displayed extraordinary courage, marked efficiency and precise execution of operations during the Papuan Campaign. Headquarters: South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943) Home Town: Australia VIAL, LEIGH H. Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Leigh H. Vial, Pilot Officer, Royal Australian Air Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy as a Coast Watcher in action against enemy forces in the Southwest Pacific Area during the period from 15 February 1942 to 13 August 1942. (A complete citation of the actions for which the award to this officer is made cannot be published at this time for reasons of military secrecy.)  NOTE: No evidence of a subsequent complete citation is available. Pilot Officer Vial was a Coast Watcher (Project Ferdinand). He manned an outpost in the hills above the Salamua airfield on New Guinea for the period specified in his citation, reporting daily on Japanese aircraft activity. Headquarters: South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 33 (September 12, 1942) Home Town: Camberwell, Victoria, Australia *WALKER, IAN W. (KIA) Citation: The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Ian W. Walker, Lieutenant, Australian Imperial Force, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy near Buna, New Guinea, on 5 December 1942. During an attack on strongly held enemy positions in which a Bren Gun Carrier Section was put out of action, Lieutenant Walker went forward under heavy enemy fire to the disabled carriers, which were located about half way between the enemy and our own lines, to remove the guns and ammunition from the disabled carriers. After he had reached the first three carriers and removed the guns and ammunition, he ordered nearby gunners to keep up their fire and told the enlisted men, who had accompanied him, to return to our lines. Lieutenant Walker then went forward, armed with a submachine gun and under heavy enemy fire, in an attempt to reach a fourth gun carrier to save the guns and ammunition from it. He was mortally wounded during this action and died shortly after returning to our lines. Headquarters: South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 7 (January 15, 1943) Home Town: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia WOOTEN, GEORGE F. Citation: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to George F. Wooten, Brigadier, Australian Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy in action against enemy forces in New Guinea, during the Papuan Campaign, 23 July 1942 to 3 January 1943 As Commander, 18th Infantry Brigade, Australian Army, Brigadier Wooten displayed extraordinary courage, marked efficiency and precise execution of operations during the Papuan Campaign. Headquarters: South West Pacific Area, General Orders No. 5 (January 11, 1943) Home Town: Australia

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