A good Vietnam Mentioned in Despatches group awarded to Warrant Officer Class II K.A. Tocock, Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, attached 1st Armoured Regiment, who was Mentioned in Despatches in the London Gazette of 19th September 1969 for his bravery on 16th February 1969 when during an ambush at Nui-Dat, Vietnam he was command of an Armoured Recovery Vehicle. A tank came under fire by Rocket Propelled Grenades and was extensively damaged and a brush fire was stated in the area of contact at the same time. Without regard to his safety, he manoeuvred his vehicle into the contact area, dismounted under observation of the enemy and assisted the movement of the wounded to a safer area, he then organised ammunition resupply and would later remove the damaged tank from the contact area under fire.
Group of 5: Vietnam Medal 1964-1973 with Mention in Despatches oak leaf; (310717 K A TOCOCK D) Defence Force Service Medal, EIIR bust; (310717 K.A. TOCOCK D) Australian Meritorious Service Medal, EIIR bust; (310717 K.A. TOCOCK D). Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, Australia Suspender; EIIR bust; (310717 K.A. TOCOCK D) South Vietnam Campaign Medal, 1 Clasp: 1960; (310717 K.A. TOCOCK D.) Note all medals are officially impressed duplicates.
Condition: all medals are officially impressed duplicates, Good Very Fine
Kenneth Alfred Tocock was born in the United Kingdom on 5th March 1929, the son of Lilian Tocock of 38 Bramshaw Road, Reading. Enlisting with the Royal Berkshire Regiment on 24th April 1947 he served with the British Army of the Rhine and was discharged on 4th June 1949. He would however enlist in the Australian Regular Army in London on 1st August 1951.
He would be posted to 1st Battalion on 3rd March 1952 he spent time with the 15th National Service Battalion in 1954 before joining the 3rd National Service Training Battalion as a Mess Steward. Qualifying as Recovery Mechanic on 24th May 1957 he re-enlisted that same year and joined Royal Australian Electrical Mechanical Engineers in 1959.
He would then be posted first to the 3rd Base Workshops, Broadmeadows on 7th December 1959 and he was attached with the 1st Armoured Regiment, Light Aid Detachment on 13th June 1960, attaining the rank of Advanced Sergeant on 19th July 1962 and it was with that rank that he emplaned for Sydney for Vung Tau Operations in South Vietnam attached to C Squadron.
While in Vietnam he would receive a Mention in Despatches in the London Gazette of 19th September 1969, the original recommendation states:
‘Sergeant Kenneth Tocock enlisted in the Australian Regular Army on 1st August 1951 and was allotted to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps and posted to 2 Bn Royal Australian Regiment at Puckapunyal. In 1955 he transferred to the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. He joined C Squadron Section, 1st Armoured Regiment Light aid Detachment on 22nd November 1968 in South Vietnam and B Squadron Section on 11th February 1969.
On the 16th February 1969, Sergeant Tocock was commanding his Armoured Recovery Vehicle which was attached to 1st Troop, B Squadron, 1st Armoured Regiment, and B Company, 4th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. At approximately 1330 hours, the company group came under heavy enemy fire and several friendly casualties occurred. One tank was hit by a Rocket Propelled Grenade fire and extensively damaged, a brush fire started in the area of the contact at that time.
Without regard to his personal safety, Sergeant Tocock manoeuvred his vehicle into the contact area, dismounted under observation of the enemy and assisted the movement of the wounded to a safer area. He administer first aid and was directed efforts to extinguish the brush fire that was threatening the wounded. He then organised progressive ammunition resupply from the enemy. Later while the contact continued, he recovered the damaged tank our of the contact area to a safe area.
At all times during the action Sergeant Tock displayed coolness and foresight. He showed admirable leadership which was evidenced by the manner in which his crew and others about him reacted to his directions. His conduct under fire was of a high order and reinforced the bond between the combat arms and the supporting services.’
An article published by the Royal Australian Electrical Mechanical Engineers, written by C.S.M. Milton Pearson, covers the ambush in which Tocock was mentioned stating:
‘The tanks were in a Jungle Leaguer with 1000 yards of open ground and half way across drove into soft ground. The tanks backed off to move around the Eastern edge. The infantry without their tank cover moved into the jungle but were immediately assailed with ‘Claymore’ Mines and small arms.
The lading tank commanded by Sgt Swarbrick moved forward into the jungle very slowly, so as to not run over infantry, some of whom were wounded. After advancing 150 yards, the tank stopped and the Gunner, Trooper John Howard, was ordered to fire a number of clearing canister rounds, whilst traversing from left to right.
After these rounds were fired, the crew could see that the tank was in the centre of a horse shoe bunker system, and was receiving small arms fore from the bunker slits. At that time, the crew ran out of ready canister rounds and it was thought that firing high explosive rounds was too dangerous, having regard to the thick jungle and the close proximity of the infantry on the ground. Wounded infantry on the ground imposed on any tank in movement.
Sergeant Swarbrick then ordered Trooper John Howard to fire both .30 cal and .50 cal machine gun rounds into the bunkers. After some time, both machine guns over heated, then jammed. In the short period whilst the Loader, Trooper Mark Jackson, tried to change barrels, the tank was hit three times by R.P.G. fire, from approximately 20 meters, two through the side of the turret and one through the mantlet cover.
All the turret electrics were shorted out, none of the gunnery, except the commanders .30 cal could be fired. The Tank filled with smoke.
All the crew were wounded but managed to bail out and take cover under the back of the tank except for the Driver, Trooper Michael Ingram, who was unconscious in his compartment. Whilst huddled under the tank, the wounded crew saw 2 Lt Sullivans’ Centurion, come in and stop on the right hand side of theirs and start firing.
2 Lt Sullivan then dismounted from his tank and, under fire, ran forward engaging the enemy with his pistol, mounted the burning tank, extricated the wounded driver and then backed it out from under the enemy rocket fire. He then returned to his own tank and continued to engage the enemy until the contact was broken at 1500 hours. His action enabled the dead and wounded to be evacuated, prevented the company from sustaining greater casualties and enabled the infantry to redeploy. 2 Lt Sullivan was awarded a MiD for his action.
Sergeant Kenneth A. Sandy Tocock (RAEME) crewing the ARV , was awarded a MiD during this action as well. The battle created a brush fire in the contact area and without regard to his personal safety, Sergeant Tocock manoeuvred the ARV into the contact area, dismounted under observation of the enemy and assisted the movement of the wounded to a safer area. He administered first aid and directed efforts to extinguish the brush fire which was threatening the wounded. He then organised progressive ammunition resupply from the damaged tank to the other tanks engaging the enemy. Later, while the contact continued, he recovered the damaged tank out of the contact area to safety.’
Tocock would serve in Vietnam until 19th November 1969 and was posted Puckapunyal. He continued to serve until 31st July 1978 when he was discharged at Melbourne. He had married in Australia and was living with his wife at Warragul, Victoria the time.
Additionally entitled to the Australia Service Medal 1945-75, National Medal with bar and Australian Defence Medal.
