- SURNAME
Bond
- FORENAME
Bernard John
- UNIT
- RANK
Corporal
- NUMBER
23880355
- AWARD
Distinguished Conduct Medal
- PLACE
Dhofar 1975
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CITATION:
Distinguished Conduct Medal : Oman, 12 April 1974
On 12 April a joint Firqat/BATT/Muscat Regiment operation took place on the Jebel Ashawr. The aims was to search and destroy enemy groups and to seize their weapons and equipment. Cpl BOND was in charge of a fire team covering the search party led by Cpl BOND's Troop Commander. At 0910 hours the search party entered a deep wadi and was ambushed by a party of between 20 and 30 enemy. At the same Cpl Bond's party came under heavy rifle and machine gun fire from several enemy about 200 meters away. Cpl BOND realized the extreme danger of the situation and, in order to relieve the pressure on the wadi party, he deliberately drew the enemy fire on to his own position. Time and again, with no thought whatsoever of his own safety Cpl BOND pressed forward towards the enemy in an attempt to divert their attention. Every time he moved or fired he drew the withering fire of an infinitely stronger enemy. It was at this stage that Cpl BOND realized that, as the senior NCO remaining, he would have to organize the rescue of the trapped men. His troop commander was missing, subsequently confirmed killed. Again, without considering his own safety Cpl BOND moved over open and expose ground to a point where he could access the situation. Then personally he led the rescue attempt although he knew full well that the enemy were still in the wadi and in strength. When he reached the position he found that it had been overrun and the men killed. He then organized the recovery of the bodies which took two hours and exhausted the party. Cpl BOND fully realized that at any moment the enemy might return and attack his small party who were now severely hampered with their task. Throughout this long and fierce action which lasted nearly four hours, Cpl BOND displayed outstanding personal courage and devotion to duty. His cool thinking when under heavy fire and his selfless action in deliberately attacking enemy attention enabled some of the trapped party to escape. His leadership throughout was of the highest order and inspired all those who were with him, while his ready acceptance of his deceased officer's responsibility saved lives and ensured an orderly and successful conclusion to a potentially adverse situation. The performance of this gallant NCO was in the highest tradition of his Regiment and of the service.
On 12 April a joint Firqat/BATT/Muscat Regiment operation took place on the Jebel Ashawr. The aims was to search and destroy enemy groups and to seize their weapons and equipment. Cpl BOND was in charge of a fire team covering the search party led by Cpl BOND's Troop Commander. At 0910 hours the search party entered a deep wadi and was ambushed by a party of between 20 and 30 enemy. At the same Cpl Bond's party came under heavy rifle and machine gun fire from several enemy about 200 meters away. Cpl BOND realized the extreme danger of the situation and, in order to relieve the pressure on the wadi party, he deliberately drew the enemy fire on to his own position. Time and again, with no thought whatsoever of his own safety Cpl BOND pressed forward towards the enemy in an attempt to divert their attention. Every time he moved or fired he drew the withering fire of an infinitely stronger enemy. It was at this stage that Cpl BOND realized that, as the senior NCO remaining, he would have to organize the rescue of the trapped men. His troop commander was missing, subsequently confirmed killed. Again, without considering his own safety Cpl BOND moved over open and expose ground to a point where he could access the situation. Then personally he led the rescue attempt although he knew full well that the enemy were still in the wadi and in strength. When he reached the position he found that it had been overrun and the men killed. He then organized the recovery of the bodies which took two hours and exhausted the party. Cpl BOND fully realized that at any moment the enemy might return and attack his small party who were now severely hampered with their task. Throughout this long and fierce action which lasted nearly four hours, Cpl BOND displayed outstanding personal courage and devotion to duty. His cool thinking when under heavy fire and his selfless action in deliberately attacking enemy attention enabled some of the trapped party to escape. His leadership throughout was of the highest order and inspired all those who were with him, while his ready acceptance of his deceased officer's responsibility saved lives and ensured an orderly and successful conclusion to a potentially adverse situation. The performance of this gallant NCO was in the highest tradition of his Regiment and of the service.
WEB LINKS:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7631426https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7488116
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