The Australian Korean War Peacekeeping and Vietnam War Officer’s Trio awarded to Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Joseph Spry, 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, who served as second in command of the 5th Battalion R.A.R. in Vietnam between March 1969 to February 1970, then assuming acting command of the Battalion during the jungle operations of Operation Camden, comprising: U.N. Korea Medal, 1950-53 (3/35057 F. J. Spry), impressed; Vietnam Medal, 1964-1973 (335057 F. J. Spry); South Vietnam Medal 1964, single clasp ‘1960 - ’ upon ribbon, privately engraved to lower reverse (335057 F.J. Spry); Group court-mounted for display, with related cap badges and one piece of cloth insignia, good very fine (6) Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Joseph Spry was born on 15 January 1933 in Melbourne, Australia, and received his first commission as a Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Army when he joined the Australian Staff Corps on 9 December 1953. He saw some initial service in Japan in support of the Korean War and was officially posted to the 4 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment from 9 December 1953 to 4 July 1954. Promoted to Temporary Captain on 13 November 1956, he served as Adjutant of the 3rd Infantry Battalion from 13 November 1956 to 28 July 1960. Spry was promoted to Captain in the Australian Staff Corps on 9 December 1957, and then posted to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment on 29 July 1960 - being appointed Staff Captain of A Headquarters to Northern Command from 18 December 1961 to 27 June 1963 while attached to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment between 28 June to 19 August 1963. Transferring to the 2nd Battalion from 20 August 1968, he was promoted to Major with the Australian Staff Corps on 9 December 1963. After a time with the Australian Staff College between 25 January 1965 and 6 February 1966, he was appointed General Staff Officer 2nd Grade at the Headquarters of the Northern Territories Command on 7 February 1966 and was afterwards posted to serve with the 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment between 19 March 1968 to 17 May 1970, as Battalion Second in Command. It was during his time as 2.I.C. that Spry saw active service in South Vietnam, during the 5th Battalion's second tour of operations during the Vietnam War. He is mentioned numerous times in the book ‘The Year of the Tigers - the Second tour of 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment in South Vietnam 1969-1970’ (Capt. M. R. Battle, Ed.), which notes Spry’s particular involvement in 'Operation Camden' which lasted from 29th July to 31st August 1969, in which 3rd Platoon and the Assault Pioneer Platoon of the 5th RAR encountered the 3rd Battalion of the 274th North Vietnamese Regiment. A fierce action ensued with a number of casualties, and at the height of the action 'Major Fred Spry, the Acting Battalion Commander who had arrived directly overhead in 'Possum' (Bell Sioux Helicopter) and unflinchingly assumed the mantle of the fearless Lieutenant Colonel Colin 'Genghis' Khan, dropped the much needed shell dressings onto the position'- it being at the time impossible to conduct casualty evacuation due to the intense fire. He was also involved in many other jungle-fighting and reconnaissance operations against Viet Kong forces in the area during this time period. On his return from Vietnam, Spry was appointed to Assistant Quartermaster General at Headquarters of Eastern Command on 18 May 1970, and promoted to Temporary Lieutenant Colonel on the same day. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 31 August 1970, and was afterwards seconded to the Department of Defence Services as an Advisor at Singapore from 5 July 1971. He retired not long afterwards. This lot offered for sale with a copy of ‘The Year of the Tigers’ and the short pamphlet ‘The Royal Australian Regiment 50th Anniversary 1948-1998’.

Estimate: GBP 300 - 500