Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

"3400376 Private Lionel John 'Bomber' Terry, 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3RAR) stands in a trench outside a bunker before heading out on a patrol. A miner prior to enlistment, Pte Terry commenced his service in Korea on 4 July 1952. On the night of 24-25 January 1953 Pte Terry was a wireless operator on a patrol which moved from Hill 355 into enemy territory to raid a Chinese standing patrol and capture a prisoner. During the battle which ensued Pte Terry was wounded but later led a charge against an attack from the rear. He was last seen fighting a group to 20 Chinese soldiers. Pte Terry's body was never recovered and he is regarded as missing presumed dead on 25 January 1953. He was aged 22. In June 1955 he was posthumously Mentioned in Despatches (MID). The citation reads, 'On the night 24/25 Jan 53 Pte L J Terry was a member of a fighting patrol of eighteen men. During the night a neighbouring patrol was completely encircled by an estimated reinforced company of enemy, and Pte Terry's patrol went to its assistance. During the ensuing fire fight Pte Terry was wounded, but still remained an effective fighting member of the patrol. At a critical stage when the patrol was being heavily attacked from the flank Pte Terry observed twenty enemy coming at the patrol from the rear. Pte Terry immediately called for assistance and despite his wounds charged this group of enemy firing his Owen gun and throwing grenades. This shock action effectively stopped the enemy's advance and allowed the patrol to move forward again unhindered. Pte Terry was not seen again after this charge. By his complete devotion to duty and personal sacrifice Pte Terry made it possible for his patrol to break cleanly from an overwhelmingly superior force and extricate itself with its wounded." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)