Citation for DSO

NX70416 - GALLEGHAN (Sir), Frederick Gallagher (Black Jack), Brig. - BHQ, CO. 2/30 Bn.

The citation reads:

"Lt.-Col. Galleghan conceived a plan and personally supervised the whole operation, and by initiative, coolness and resourcefulness he was able with one Company to ambush several hundred of the enemy, that Company destroying utterly 500 of the enemy and itself suffering only slight casualties.

Throughout the ensuing battle he personally directed operations and by personal example, cool and quick decisions at a time when the fate of his Bn. was in the balance, he not only withheld a determined attempt by the enemy to force a withdrawal but inflicted very severe casualties. His calmness during this period played a very important part in maintaining the morale of his troops, in spite of continued heavy dive bombing attacks on the area from which he directed his operation. At no time was any portion of his unit out of control and when forced by a force far superior in numbers to that of his own to withdraw to a line behind the Sungei Muar, he again conceived and carried out a plan which enabled the whole Battalion to break contact with the enemy and re-establish a solid front. Again his courage was exemplary, as he saw each Company out of its contact and remained until the last to ensure safety of his men.

Throughout the whole of these operations, without artillery or air support, and opposed by a force of at least a Brigade strength, the Battalion suffered only between 100 and 150 casualties, killed, wounded and missing, of which only 12 were known to have been killed."