The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection

The rare ‘South Arabia’ M.M. pair awarded to Sergeant R. C. ‘Bunny’ Austin, 79 (Kirkee) Commando Light Battery, 29 Commando Regiment, Royal Artillery, formerly Special Air Service, who gained the award of his Military Medal in Aden whilst supporting 45 Commando, Royal Marines in the night action at Wadi Taym, when due to the elevated position of his battery and with his sangar under heavy fire including sustaining a direct hit from an anti-tank rocket he was forced to depress the muzzle of his gun so low that the shells cleared the parapet by a matter of millimetres

Military Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (22706578 Sgt., R.A.); General Service 1962, 2 clasps, Borneo, South Arabia (22706578 L./Bdr., R.A.); together with an original letter of congratulations from Brigadier J. B. Dye, O.B.E., M.C., South Arabian Army, a copy of the official Army News Release concerning the award, an original newspaper cutting and copies of two further news cuttings, one of which shows Austin in uniform wearing his S.A.S. Wings. light contact wear and edge bruise to G.S.M., otherwise very fine (2) £12000-15000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Bill and Angela Strong Medal Collection.

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M.M. London Gazette 30 May 1967.

The official citation published in the London Gazette states:

‘On the 13th October 1966, Sergeant Austin was in charge of a 105mm gun crew which was attached to ‘X’ Company, 45 Commando Royal Marines for an operation in the Wadi Taym area of Qutaibi Province of the South Arabian Federation.
‘X’ Company’s position was on the very open and exposed rocky feature known as ‘Table Top’. Through his drive and leadership Sergeant Austin managed to get his gun sangar constructed in the few remaining hours before last light. This was a gruelling task in the heat and dust, but his zeal was rewarded for, when darkness fell, the position immediately came under small arms fire. As the enemy were below them, it was difficult for the gun detachment to engage them without striking the top of the sangar. Well aware of the danger and regardless of the enemy fire, Sergeant Austin calmly controlled accurate fire onto the enemy, the rounds passing only a few millimetres over the sangar lip.
At 23.15 hours the following night, the company was heavily attacked from two directions at once, with mortars and blindicides [anti-tank rockets] from the south and automatic weapons and rifle fire from the west. Although Sergeant Austin’s sangar received a direct hit from a blindicide, the building was so sound that there were no casualties. Led by him with complete disregard for his own safety, the crew moved the gun through an arc of 180 degrees under heavy fire, removing the armoured shield and stanchions which were obscuring the night aiming lamps, and engaged the dissident mortars at a range of 500 metres. As a result of this action the enemy lost a most important leader and at least five others were wounded before they withdrew.
Throughout the operation Sergeant Austin’s energy, sense of duty and cheerful efficiency were an outstanding example to all. His foresight and professional ability certainly prevented casualties and his courage and determination under fire greatly influenced the successful outcome of this engagement.’

Sold with copy of the Battery War Diary for 14 October 1966 which states: ‘Later reports confirmed that two dissidents were killed and five injured that night. One of the dead dissidents was named as Salim Hussein Ghazzali, one of the oldest members of the Barna Gang.’

Sergeant Raymond Charles ‘Bunny’ Austin was born in March 1934 and educated at Privett’s Secondary Modern School, Chatham, Kent. He joined the Army in 1952 serving first in the Royal Artillery before transferring to ‘D’ Squadron, Special Air Service with whom he served until June 1958 at which time he took up service with 29 Commando Regiment, Royal Artillery.