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War Memorial
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Bruce Davies (MBE, MiD) 

Bruce Davies served a remarkable  three tours of duty in Vietnam;

The following biography was first published by the 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Association on its Faceook page on Bruce's passing.

Bruce Davies enlisted in the Army in 1961.  He served initially in 5RAR and deployed on its first tour of South Vietnam from 26 May 65 to 1 Jun 66.

He returned as a WO2 in South Vietnam with AATTV on two tours of duty.  The first,  from 24th August 1967 to Oct 67, 2/5 ARVN Tam Ky, Quang Tin. Oct 67– Mar 68, 1/5 ARVN, 2nd Division, Tam Ky, Quang Tin and Quang Ngai. Apr 68,Course, Vung Tau. Apr – Aug 68, platoon commander, 23rd & 26th(223 & 206) companies and Recon Platoon 25th Coy, 2nd Battalion, 2MSF B-20 Pleiku. RTA 6 Aug68.

On his third tour of duty from 29 Oct 69 to Jan 70, 2/4ARVN, 2nd Division, Quang Ngai. Feb – Apr 70, 4th ARVN Regt Recon Coy, 2nd Division, Quang Ngai. Apr 70, PF Baria. May – Oct 70, HQ AATTV, Saigon. RTA 29 Oct 70.

In addition to unit citations awarded to AATTV and 1RAR for service in South Vietnam, Bruce was also awarded the US Bronze Star for Valour (with “V’ Device), Commendation for Distinguished Service, awarded Order of the British Empire - Member (Military) in 1977 and Mention in Dispatches (MID) for his services with AATTV. A copy of the award for MID reads as follows:

Army Number: 37393
Substantive Rank: Warrant Officer Class Two
Christian Name: Bruce
Surname: DAVIES
Honour and Award: MID

Warrant Officer Davies enlisted in the Australian Regular Army in 1961. He served with the First Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment in Vietnam in 1965. He later served with the Australian Army Training Team in Vietnam from August 1967 to August 1968 and rejoined it in October 1969.

On 23 December 1969, Warrant Officer Davies was serving with the 2nd Battalion, 4th Regiment Army of the Republic of Vietnam, when the forward company, which was crossing the Song Ngoi River, came under heavy enemy automatic fire. The Battalion was caught on both sides of the river with many soldiers in the river itself.
Completely disregarding his own safety, Warrant Officer Davies immediately swam the river to reach to reach the Battalion Command Post to mobilise all available fire support. In order to do this, Warrant Officer Davies had to cross an open stretch of ground which was swept by enemy fire. Returning to the crossing site, which was still under intense fire, Warrant Officer Davies observed several Vietnamese soldiers who had been swept downstream and were in danger of drowning. Despite the heavy volume of fire now being directed at him, Warrant Officer Davies dived into the river and made repeated crossings carrying the Vietnamese who could not swim. On several occasions, he was completely submerged by the weight of the soldiers and their equipment. He carried to safety at least thirty soldiers many of who may have drowned had he not done so.
Warrant Officer Davies’ personal courage under fire, his determination and his great regard for the Vietnamese soldiers effectively stabilised and materially assisted overcoming a dangerous situation and proved and inspiration to all those who were privileged to serve with him and reflected great credit on himself, the Australian Army Training Team and the Australian Army.

Bruce continued to serve in the Army with appointments as a Major at the infatry Centre and as Battalion Second in Command of 2/4 RAR in Townsville in 1984-5.

Bruce had always been a stalwart member of AATTV. An author and historian on AATTV history, he has been relentless in his pursuit to have AATTV recognised throughout the veteran community. Bruce will not only be a great loss to the Victorian Branch of AATTV but to the whole of AATTV Association.