RADFORD, Douglas John

Rank: 
Marine (Acting Lance Corporal)
Unit / Base: 
40 Commando RM
Regiment/Corps: 
Royal Marines
Service: 
Royal Navy
Number: 
RM 19037
Honours & Awards: 
Douglas John Radford RM
Acting Lance Corporal Douglas Radford was awarded the Military Medal during operations in Borneo on the 23rd April 1963.
Recommendation
Marine (Acting Lance Corporal) Radford was on active service with 40 Commando Royal Marines in Sarawak from March to May 1963. On 23rd April he was in charge of a Surveillance Patrol of five men and a policeman in a school hut just outside Kampong Gumbanig, close to the Indonesian border. In the early hours of the morning, in particularly dark and misty conditions, his outpost was attacked by about eight men using grenades, shotguns and automatic weapons, backed up by a further thirty armed men. Although surrounded and in a position difficult to defend, Marine Radford rallied his men, one of whom was wounded. By his coolness and determination, he drove the enemy back, inflicted several casualties and prevented his small force from being over-run by superior numbers. Subsequent intelligence revealed that the enemy suffered five casualties, two of whom died. By his gallant and distinguished service in the face of an enemy attack in superior numbers Marine Radford set a fine example. It was largely due to the steadiness and confidence of this young non commissioned officer that the people in the area hold the British soldier in such high regard as a fighting man.
 
Sources
London Gazette 43189, page 10451.
National Archives file WO373/139/7.
[Image] Report in the East Kent Times and Mail 24 December 1963.
 

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