Military Cross : Captain D Bryant, 2/48 Battalion Accession Number: REL29308.002

Description

Military Cross (GeoVI). Unnamed as issued, but engraved on reverse with the date '1942'.

Contextual Description

This medal was awarded to SX10329 Don Bryant for his gallant leadership of 'C' Company, 2/48 Battalion at Tel El Eisa in July 1942. Bryant was born in 1918 and was commissioned in the Citizen Military Forces early in the Second World War. He transfered to the 2nd AIF and joined 2/48 Battalion, becoming commander of 'C' Company in 1941. He was later wounded in the North African campaign, but recovered to see service in the Pacific. Post-war, Bryant remained in the Australian Army, holding a variety of positions including Camp Commandant at the Woomera Range and Senior Instructor at the School of Infantry. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1960, and retired in 1969 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The 2/48 history 'Tobruk to Tarakan' states in relation to the action at Tel El Eisa: 'C Company was completely cut off by tanks milling around and over slit trenches, but throughout the whole of this action Captain Bryant kept in communication with battalion headquarters, giving a running commentary. When asked from battalion headquarters how the position was, his laconic reply, 'She's sweet', became a byword with the battalion. This position, like D Company's, was unprepared for tank attack, consisting only of weapon pits. Captain Bryant's coolness and his directions to the artillery enabled an accurate fire to be brought down.' The Military Cross citation reads as follows. ‘On 10 Jul 42 the Battalion carried out ‘just before’ dawn attack on the TEL EL EISA Ridge, 5000 yards west of the South African FDLs. Capt. BRYANT's Coy was responsible for taking objective Pt 26 and after consolidation to swing South 2800 yards to the line of the railway as part of an Anti Tank screen to defend the high ground captured. Capt. BRYANT in leading his Coy, with great skill and gallantry attained his objectives promptly, securing many prisoners, Italian and German as well as much enemy eqpt in guns, weapons and MMGs. The Coy then took up an unprepared defended locality and hastily dug in. During the afternoon the enemy lodged several tank counter attacks on this and another Coy locality at the TEL EL EISA Railway Station. On three occasions the enemy tanks overran the Platoon posts but BRYANT stuck to his ground, inspiring his men by his own example and cool leadership. Throughout the whole of the enemy action Capt. BRYANT was in constant touch with Battalion H.Q. giving accurate descriptions of tank positions and movements thus enabling artillery fire to be accurately brought down. His coolness and determination that his Coy would hold the ground gained was an inspiration to all ranks and was a clear lesson that tanks could be fought and held by infantry even without prepared positions – only slit trenches being available. Undoubtedly Capt. BRYANT’s ‘Will to Win’ prevented the enemy from penetrating beyond the railway line and so enabled the remainder of the Battalion to dig in and consolidate on the high ground taken 2800 yards in the rear of his Coy locality.’