22 SAS Boyns, David Robert

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Boyne
  • FORENAME
David Robert
  • UNIT
22 Special Air Service Regiment
  • RANK
Sub/Captain
  • NUMBER
425327
  • AWARD
Member of the British Empire
  • PLACE
18-19 January 1954, Bongau Forest Reserve, Malaya (Op.Termite)
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit RAMC
Medical officer
 

CITATION:

Member of the British Empire : Operation SWORD involved a parachute descent by a squadron of the SAS into BONGSU Forest Reserve and this descent involved a drop in primary jungle. Captain BOYNS, Royal Army Medical Corps, was attached to the Squadron for this Operation. From his parachute descent he had a hard and difficult landing and as a result it transpired later that he had fractured his back, though at the time he made no mention fo this and no one knew that he had been hurt until after the Operation was concluded and he was admitted to hospital.

At the same time, during this drop, three other men were all severely injured, all of whom subsequently died. From the moment Captain BOYNS landed he immediately started to give such help as he could to those severely injured men and to others who were less severely injured. This medical help entailed him moving from place to place over rough country, undoubtedly causing him considerable pain while going about his duties. These he fulfilled quietly and efficiently and bringing such relief as he could to these men. Next morning at dawn, the three severely injured men having died during the night, Captain BOYNS was sent by the Squadron Leader to find Brigade Headquarters and report personally to the Brigade Commander upon the situation. This he did and then set about organising help and parties to return to the jungle to recover parachute equipment from the Squadron, and this he continued to do long after the Squadron had, in fact, returned to base. He had in the end to be given a direct order to cease work.

Throughout the period when the Squadron was engaged on this Operation Captain BOYNS never spared himself and fulfilled to the highest degree the high standards of the Royal Army Medical Corps and set a high example as an officer throughout. He never stopped to eat or rest until he considered his duties had been satisfactorily concluded.

WEB LINKS:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7622346
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