- SURNAME
Bolitho
- FORENAME
Mervyn Richard (Merv)
- UNIT
Royal Australian Infantry Corps
- RANK
T/Warrant Officer Second Class
- NUMBER
5411664
- AWARD
Mention in Despatches + US Bronze Star
- PLACE
South Vietnam
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 09.11.1935
AATTV 19.11.1968-5.11.1969
WIA 19.07.1969, A Shau Valley
member Australian SAS
died 20.12.2013, Perth, Western Australia
cremated
Warrant Officer Bolitho enlisted in the Australian Regular Army in 1953 and served with The Royal Australian Regiment in Korea and in Malaya. He joined the Australian Army Training Team in Vietnam in November 1968.
For his full tour with the Training Team, Warrant Officer Bolitho served in operations with Hac-Bao (Black Panther) Company of the 1st Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam and for the majority of this time was the company’s senior adviser. Only the best advisers were selected for this elite Company and it contained carefully selected Vietnamese soldiers. The company was tasked with special operations in some of the most difficult areas of Vietnam, including the Demilitarised Zone and the mountainous region of the A-Shau Valley. Warrant Officer Bolitho’s outstanding personal example and professional ability resulted in this small unit producing operational result previously thought unattainable.
During July 1969, the Hac-Bao Company was assigned to a search and destroy operation in the A-Shau Valley, adjacent to the Laotian border. On numerous occasions throughout his protracted operation, Warrant Officer Bolitho displayed outstanding leadership and personal bravery. He was constantly moving forward to the leading elements of the company while under enemy fire, encouraging the Vietnamese junior leaders and their soldier by his personal example. He was wounded during the operation, but refused to be evacuated until he ensured that the company was settled in a temporary defensive position. He returned to the field after only three days in hospital to continue the operation. His guidance to the Vietnamese Company Commander, and in the more hazardous situations his direct leadership and command of the company, in the actions involved in this operation were outstanding.
Warrant Officer Boltiho’s professional ability, his personal example and his devotion to duty throughout his operational tour with the Training Team were an inspiration to all who served with him and reflect great credit upon himself, the Australian Army Training Team and the Australian Army.
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