Chindit Awards - Distinguished Conduct Medal

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Company Sergeant Major R.S. Blain D.C.M.

[Transcript of Recommendation of Award]

Distinguished Conduct Medal - Chindits Awards

Brigade

77 Ind Inf Bde

Corps

4th Corps

Unit

The Dorsetshire Regiment attached King's (Liverpool)

Date of
Recommendation

Regtl. No.

2978067

Rank and Name

Company Sergeant Major Robert Strachan BLAIN

Action for which recommended -

OPERATIONS IN BURMA - MARCH 1943

This Warrant Officer belonged to the Sabotage Squad of his Column, and took a leading part in the destruction of the railway to Myitkyina. On 6th March, 1943, working with great speed he destroyed a bridge south of Nankan, cutting a box girder with a span of 120 feet, and blowing the abutments of another span. He also cut the railway in many other places, laid a number of booby traps using 3" mortar shells for bursting charge, and then withdrew his men safely to rendezvous some miles distant.

On 23rd March 1943 at Pago, he and his party of ten men helped to ambush a Japanese company, inflicting a number of casualties. Later, near Nyaung Bintha on the Sheweli River, his section ambushed an enemy party of twice his strength, destroying about half of them. On all occasions and at all times he upheld the finest traditions of a British Warrant Officer.

Recommended By

Major J.M. Calvert, R.E.
Column Commander
77th (Indian) Infantry Brigade Group


Honour or Reward

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Signed By

Brigadier O.C. Wingate
Comdr. 77th Ind. Inf. Bde.

General Auchinleck
Commander-in-Chief in India

(London Gazette 05.08.1943)



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