- SURNAME
Mansell
- FORENAME
William Bradbury (Bill)
- UNIT
R.M. 40 Commando
- RANK
Lieutenant
- NUMBER
- AWARD
Military Cross
- PLACE
Malaya 1950
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 26.6.1927
HMS Duke of York 1947
R.M. Commandos 1949
USMC school (instructor) (LtCol) 1970
O.C. R.M. Depot
Military Secretary to the Commandant General,Royal Marines (Colonel)
Secretary of National Maritime Museum 1979-85 (awarded O.B.E.)
married Jane 1953 (4 children)
died 17.5.2000
London Gazette 39215, 27th April 1951, Page 2389 (MC)
CITATION:
Military Cross : Lieutenant William Bradbury, MANSELL has shown a consistently high standard of leadership when operating his patrol in bandit infested country. By his dash and courage he has made several contacts with bandits resulting in the destruction of many camps, both large and small, and personally accounting for two bandits, one killed and one wounded.
One one occasion information was received that bandits were going to approach a certain basha during the night in question in order to murder a Chinese. Lieutenant MANSELL left with his patrol for an area some three miles away and laid an ambush, entering the basha himself to await events.
A few hours later two bandits approached from an unexpected direction and passed within two yards of those in ambush outside the basha, but fire was witheld hoping for more bandits to enter the ambush. On moving a few yards further, the bandits saw the tracks Security Forces. They immediately ran forward and opened fire on the basha with several bursts from sten guns at a range of approximately 25 yards.
Lieutenant MANSELL received a serious wound in the stomach but he and his men immediately returned fire, whereupon the bandits fled into thick lalang. With great gallantry Lieutenant MARSELL left the basha in pursuit and led his patrol through the lalang to the area of a stream. There he saw the bandits escaping and he opened fire hitting both bandits. He was unable to advance further due to his wound but his patrol continued pursuit and killed one bandit and wounded the other.
The success of this patrol was entirely due to the leadership and gallantry shown by this Officer. By his example and courage he has maintained a high morale amongst his man at all times.
Place : Grik, Upper Perak, Malaya
Date of Action : 10 June 1950 to 4 September 1950
How Employed : Commando Troop Subaltern
One one occasion information was received that bandits were going to approach a certain basha during the night in question in order to murder a Chinese. Lieutenant MANSELL left with his patrol for an area some three miles away and laid an ambush, entering the basha himself to await events.
A few hours later two bandits approached from an unexpected direction and passed within two yards of those in ambush outside the basha, but fire was witheld hoping for more bandits to enter the ambush. On moving a few yards further, the bandits saw the tracks Security Forces. They immediately ran forward and opened fire on the basha with several bursts from sten guns at a range of approximately 25 yards.
Lieutenant MANSELL received a serious wound in the stomach but he and his men immediately returned fire, whereupon the bandits fled into thick lalang. With great gallantry Lieutenant MARSELL left the basha in pursuit and led his patrol through the lalang to the area of a stream. There he saw the bandits escaping and he opened fire hitting both bandits. He was unable to advance further due to his wound but his patrol continued pursuit and killed one bandit and wounded the other.
The success of this patrol was entirely due to the leadership and gallantry shown by this Officer. By his example and courage he has maintained a high morale amongst his man at all times.
Place : Grik, Upper Perak, Malaya
Date of Action : 10 June 1950 to 4 September 1950
How Employed : Commando Troop Subaltern
WEB LINKS:
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/39215/page/2389https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7621892
NATIONAL ARCHIVES:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7621892
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