- SURNAME
Hawkins
- FORENAME
John (Herbie)
- UNIT
D Squadron (16 Troop)
- RANK
Lance Corporal (A/Sergeant)
- NUMBER
22547183
- AWARD
Distinguished Conduct Medal
- PLACE
Oman 1958-59
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Royal Engineers
died 14.4.2007 Crawley,Sussex
IMAGES:
CITATION:
Distinguished Conduct Medal : 2nd December, 1958, and night 27/28th December, 1958. The area of the Aqqbat at a height of just under 8,000 feet above sea level had been seized two days before by the troop of which Sergeant Hawkins was troop sergeant. Sergeant Hawkins was in charge of an OP party of five soldiers protecting the main position. About 5 p.m. a group of 40 rebels with two LMGs attacked his position. The rebels were well led and used orthodox fire and movement tactics extremely skilfully. From the outset this N.C.O. kept a firm grip on the situation and withheld fire until the enemy was 100 - 150 yards away. During the enemy advance bren fire had been brought down on the OP party but this was not answered until the whole group of rebels had exposed themselves out of dead ground. Very effective and accurate fire was then opened by the one bren and five FNs. Five rebels were believed killed although rebel sources later reported that 9 had died.
On the night of 27/28th December Sergeant Hawkins was again a member of a raiding party which penetrated the main rebel position 3,000 yards in front of our own FDLs. When the patrol was discovered rebel picquets commenced accurate fire from above at very close range. This N.C.O. with little regard for his own safety stood up and threw grenades into the rebel positions causing the fire to slacken at once and finally cease.
On the night of 27/28th December Sergeant Hawkins was again a member of a raiding party which penetrated the main rebel position 3,000 yards in front of our own FDLs. When the patrol was discovered rebel picquets commenced accurate fire from above at very close range. This N.C.O. with little regard for his own safety stood up and threw grenades into the rebel positions causing the fire to slacken at once and finally cease.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES:
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7399698
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