THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT
HALL Brian Edward
371836. Lieutenant, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, Victor 4 Coy
CITATION
Military Cross
New Zealand Gazette Number 56 dated 17 September 1970
Lieutenant Hall enlisted in the Regular Force in October 1965 and in July 1966 entered the Officer Cadet School, Portsea. He graduated into Infantry and in November 1968 was posted to Malaysia as a platoon commander.
He arrived in the Republic of Vietnam in May 1969 as a platoon commander, 2 Platoon in Victor Four Company.On 1st June 1969 Lieutenant HALL’s platoon initiated an ambush against an enemy force which, it was subsequently learned, numbered in excess of twenty. Although two of the enemy were killed instantly, the platoon was immediately engaged with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons. Lieutenant HALL skilfully with drew his sentries to safety, moved his platoon weapons to provide covering fire and personally led a bold assault with one section on the remaining enemy. His prompt and aggressive action quickly forced the enemy to break off the engagement leaving behind one of his number and signs that he had sustained other casualties.Late in the afternoon of 17th June 1969 Lieutenant HALL was carrying out a reconnaissance when four enemy were observed at a distance of fifteen metres, between his party and the rest of the platoon. Fire was opened on the enemy and the surrounding area to such good effect that the three surviving broke towards the rest of the platoon where they were killed. An hour after last light, a large enemy force again approached the platoon position. The platoon initiated its ambush, the enemy reacted sharply and within twenty minutes the platoon was withstanding probing attacks from all sides. For the next four hours the platoon fought off all attempts to penetrate its position. During this time Lieutenant HALL directed not only the fire of his platoon but also artillery and air strikes close to his position. It was a further two hours before all enemy movement ceased on his perimeter.Between 1st June and 26th September 1969, Lieutenant HALL personally led his men in six contacts resulting in twenty dead without a single casualty being sustained by his platoon. These successes can be attributed directly to Lieutenant HALL’s bold and aggressive leadership, his willingness to assume the most dangerous position when in contact and his skill as an infantry leader.Additional Notes to the Citation:
On 1st June 1969, Victor Four Company in two separate contacts killed four VC and wounded two others. 2 Pl was ambushing a track that ran between a coffee plantation and rubber trees. At least two VC approached the platoon position and were engaged at a range of 15 metres by the two sentries Pte’s PO RAMSAY and JT BARRETT, who were protecting the flank of the platoon. The sentries killed the two VC, but the remainder of the enemy group, later estimated at up to 20, then returned fire and attempted to outflank the position. Pte RAMSAY fired a claymore and the two men withdrew back to the platoon under covering fire from 3 Section. The enemy continued to engage the platoon with small arms and RPG fire.
Supported by prompt and aggressive fire from the remainder of his platoon, Lt HALL led an assault with one of his sections into the area from which the enemy fire had come, forcing them to withdraw. The sweep through the area found the two VC killed by Pte RAMSAY and Pte BARRETT and another body killed by the assaulting section, was found in the rubber. Three AK47’s, three packs and a quantity of documents were captured. The documents revealed that Lt. HALL’s platoon (2 Pl) had taken on a group of up to 23 VC.Late in the afternoon of 17th June 1969, 2 Pl (Lt HALL) was in the process of setting an ambush when four VC approached the platoon along a track and were seen by one of the sentries, Pte J C TOCHER. The four enemy were between HALL's recon party and the main body of the platoon.The ambush, although not ready, was opened and Pte TOCHER killed one of the VC, who appeared to be a Main Force soldier. The other three fled back around a corner. A section commanded by Cpl WM MATHEWS was still getting into (ambush) position when the three fleeing VC came into view in single file.Cpl MATHEWS opened fire, killing one VC and the other two dropped out of sight. MATHEWS was joined by the Pl Sgt SV SMITH, and a machine gunner, Pte MT HOTENE, who kept up fire on the area to prevent the enemy moving away. A sweep of the area later found three dead VC, in addition the one killed by Pte TOCHER. Two AK47’s and a SKS rifle were recovered.The platoon then completed setting the ambush, and were rewarded when four hours later, Pte WG DOHERTY saw movement on the track only ten metres from the ambush. A large party was moving along the track, and when the maximum number of enemy had entered the killing area, DOHERTY sprang the ambush using Claymores, only two of which operated correctly.The VC retaliated sharply and then commenced a series of probes of the 2 Pl position from all flanks.Once it was realised that the VC were quite aggressive, in spite of the supporting artillery fire, “Spooky” was called. This ground attack aircraft was unable to identify the platoon’s position as the strobe light could not be seenthrough the tree canopy. Sgt SMITH crawled out onto the track with the strobe light, which was still operating, and placed it in the open. When the air support ceased, Sgt SMITH crawled out again to recover the strobe light. The enemy probes continued sporadically, and movement outside the position finally ceased around midnight, after four hours of contact, during which Lt HALL had directed the fire of his platoon and close support by both artillery and ground attack aircraft.
A sweep the next morning located four dead VC, of which at least three had been killed by DOHERTY, who remained steadfast in his position, using his machine gun to such good effect that all enemy attempts to penetrate had been defeated. The search of the area also located three AK47’s and an American .45 pistol.The enemy were identified as 1st Bn, 274 VC Regt. For his leadership in the Victor Company contacts on 1st June and on this occasion, Lt HALL was awarded the Military Cross.From 15 July 1969, Victor Company had been ambushing and patrolling the area of Dinh Co. From his observation position on Dinh Co, Major LYNCH spotted a fresh track leading from the hills towards Long Dien. Lynch was determined to close the track to prevent any movement out of the hills to collect supplies from the village, so on 20 July; he tasked 2 Pl (Lt HALL) with ambushing the track.At 0355 hours on 21 July, six VC, heavily laden with fresh food, walked into the ambush, which was initiated with Claymores and machine guns. Two VC were killed but the remainder fought back and a fire fight developed. The platoon swept the killing area at first light and discovered two more bodies.The guerrillas were identified as belonging to the Long Diem Guerrilla unit.KNOWN AWARDS
Military Cross
Vietnam Service Medal
NOTES
Born 9 October 1944
Died 8 March 1987, Wellington, New Zealand
Buried Taita Lawn Cemetery, Wellington [Block 10, Row N, Plot 1.]
