Description
The Military Medal, George VI, edge officially impressed “VX.65728 TPR. R. B. BRADBROOK. A. MIL. F.”
The 1939-1945 Star, reverse officially impressed “VX65728 R. B. BRADBROOK”
The Africa Star, reverse officially impressed “VX65728 R. B. BRADBROOK”
1939-45 War Medal, edge officially impressed “VX65728 R. B. BRADBROOK”
Australian Service Medal 1939-45, edge officially impressed “VX65728 R. B. BRADBROOK”
The exceptional Military Medal Group of Five to Trooper Ronald Bertram Bradbrook of the 2/9th Australian Armoured Regiment, Australian Imperial Force, who showed exceptional gallantry during Operation Oboe VI, the Borneo Campaign, whilst driving a Matilda II Infantry Tank. Whilst supporting the 2/28th Infantry Battalion, he displayed masterful ability navigating heavily mined, dense forest and, after many hours of constant action, survived a suicidal attack by the enemy and managed to return to base with a damaged vehicle and several shrapnel injuries. This Military Medal is one of only 1,100 Military Medals awarded to the A.I.F. for the Second World war, and one of only two awarded to the 2/9th Armoured Regiment, and therefore very scarce as such. The group is court mounted for display, medals seen some wear, generally Very Fine.
The Military Medal, promulgated by the London Gazette Supplement 37898 (page 1090) dated 6th March 1947, and the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, Issue No. 43 (page 749), dated 6th March 1947. The original recommendation reads:
“On 16 June 1945, Trooper Bradbrook was the driver of a tank supporting a series of assaults by 2/28th Australian Infantry Battalion on the inner ridges of the Crater Feature, Labuan Island, Borneo. His vehicle went into action at 0900 hours that morning and, after six and a half hours continuous fighting, withdrew for replenishment of ammunition at 1530 hours.
At about 1600 hours his vehicle again went into action supporting a platoon attack on the eastern ridge of the central position. On reaching the northern end of the ridge, he was ordered by his crew commander to proceed through a thick patch of jungle with a view to reaching a fire position on the southern side, but on entering the jungle it was found to be heavily mined with suspended aerial bombs and trip mines. By the time the mines were discovered the crew realised that they had lost contact with their supporting infantry, who had detoured to the left, but it being considered too dangerous to attempt to turn the tank in the mined area, they decided to push on. By Trooper Bradbrook’s skilful driving the area was safely negotiated and the fire position reached, from where the tank was able to give most valuable support to the attacking infantry, now partly visible in a gully to the left of its position.
At about 1830 hours, when ammunition was almost expended, the crew commander, knowing that the tank was in an isolated position, ordered their withdrawal, but as the driver manoeuvred his vehicle to commence the return journey, enemy appeared nearby and made a suicide attack on the tank with a large bomb or mine which, exploding on the left sponson plates, jammed the turret, caused damage to the top hull plates, half opened the driver’s sliding hatch cover, destroyed a vital starting motor fuze box, and badly wounded the driver in the back and shoulder with shrapnel splash.
Disregarding his injuries, Trooper Bradbrook kept the engines of his now crippled vehicle running successfully and drove back through the mined area to our lines, where it was found that the tank motors, once stopped, could not be started again. Had he allowed the engines to fail during the suicide attack, or had he stalled the tank during the drive back, the vehicle and its crew would have inevitably been lost.
His cool driving and determination throughout the action were an inspiration to his crew, and enabled them to materially assist the infantry assault. His resolute actions and disregard of personal injuries after the enemy attack at close quarters undoubtedly saved the tank and its personnel from certain destruction at the hands of our enemies.”
Ronald Bertram Bradbrook, the son of Mr Richard Bertram Bradbrook and Mrs Hazel Irene Bradbrook, was born in Thornbury, Victoria on the 9th August 1920 and was a Motor Body Builder by trade. With the onset of the Second World War, the 20-year-old Ronald attested for the Australian Citizens Military Forces (CMF), enlisting at the Area 57B enlistment centre no 18 at Preston, Victoria on the 3rd June 1941. He was drafted to the 8th Field Regiment and assigned the service number V33480, and began training at the military camp at Mount Martha before being posted to Camp Seymour, Victoria.
After several months, Ronald sought to serve overseas with the Second Australian Imperial Force, enlisting at Royal Park, Melbourne on the 5th November 1941. He officially discharged from the C.M.F. on the 24th November and was reassigned the A.I.F. service number VX65728 and drafted to the ‘General Reinforcements to the A.I.F.’.
- 12th November 1941 posted to the 2nd Armoured Training Regiment at Puckapunyal, Victoria
- 13th December 1941 transferred to 2/9th Armoured Regiment
- Graduated as Class III Driver Mechanic 10th May 1942
- 9th July 1942 Marched out to N.S.W. Lines of Communication
- Detached for special duty in Tamworth, N.S.W. 14th August 1942
- Detached for special duty in Muswellbrook, N.S.W. 31st August 1942
- Regular duty in QLD / NSW Lines of Communication between January 1943 to March 1944
- 23rd March 1944 – transferred to Armoured Corps Training Regiment and attended No 13 Tank Corps Armoured Fighting Vehicle School
- Qualified as an Armoured Fighting Vehicle Driver Mechanic 29th April 1944
- Proceeded to Pacific Theatre of War – embarked from Cairns abord U.S.A.T. Sea Barb 12th April 1945, disembarked at Morotai 21st April 1945
- Regrouped at Morotai Island, proceeded to British North Borneo for Operations, embarking aboard U.S.S. Carter Hall on 20th May
Ronald proceeded to the front, joining “B” Squadron, 2/9th Armoured Regiment. On the 10th June, the amphibious assault of Labuan Island began as part of Operation Oboe VI, spearheaded by the 2/28th Infantry Brigade. “B” Squadron were tasked with supporting the 2/28th Infantry Battalion on their assault of “The Pocket”, the last major Japanese stronghold on Labuan Island. On the 16th June, Ronald was the driver of a Matilda II Infantry Tank and, beginning at 9am, saw 6.5 hours of straight continuous fighting before needing to retire for ammunition. 2 hours later, his tank returned to the front and he displayed skilful driving through heavily mined, dense forest to reach the desired firing position where he then supported the advancing infantry. After several hours he was ordered to withdraw as the tank was in quite an isolated position – beginning the retreat, enemy forces engaged in a suicide attack on his tank – this caused notable damage to the hull plates and motor fuse box, jammed his turret and fixed the latch half open on the driver’s side. In the explosion, Ronald was hit in the back and shoulder from the shrapnel splash. Disregarding his injuries and the damage to his vehicle, Ronald’s determination ensured the Matilda II tank returned to base – if he had faltered or let the engines fail, the tank and the lives of his crew would have been lost to the enemy. For this action, he was recommended a Periodical Military Medal, which was later confirmed on the 26th September 1945 and signed off on by Captain R. Morton of “B” Squadron and by commanding officers of the 9th Australian Division and 1st Australian Corps. His action is aptly summarised in his citation, as detailed at the beginning of this page.
- By the 21st June, operations of the 2/9th Armoured Regiment were successful
On 15th August 1945, Japan officially surrendered, bringing an end to active hostilities, and the 2/9th Australian Armoured Regiment’s duties turned to post-war occupation and slow demobilization.
- Transferred to the 1st Australian Base Ship Repair and Disposal Depot 21st September 1945
- Returned to Australia – embarked from Labuan Island on 3rd October 1945 aboard H.M.A.S. Manoora, disembarked 15th October 1945.
- Marched in to Camp Pell, Royal Park, Melbourne 21st October for demobilization
Ronald Bertram Bradbrook officially discharged from the Second Australian Imperial Force on the 24th October 1945. He received his Periodical Military Medal several years later on the 6th March 1947 – a testament to the administrative backlog of Periodical gallantry awards that the commanding officers processed following the conflict, and is one of only two Military Medals awarded to the 2/9th Australian Armoured Regiment.
Ronald lived a long life post-war, passing away at the age of 87 in 2008 – it is noted that this medal group originally sold through auction on the 8-11th April 2008 and was likely consigned by the recipient right before he died (hammered for A$14,400).
