Auction Catalogue

17 March 2021

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Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

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Lot

№ 25

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17 March 2021

Hammer Price:
£22,000

The Impressive ‘Malaya, Borneo and South Vietnam Jungle Fighter’ D.C.M. group of eight awarded to Warrant Officer First Class J. G. Sandford, 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment, for great gallantry, forceful leadership and aggressive demeanour as a Platoon Commander during multiple close-quarter jungle fights. One of the four D.C.M.s awarded to New Zealanders during the Vietnam War, Sandford was probably the most decorated New Zealand combatant senior N.C.O. of his generation

Distinguished Conduct Medal, E.II.R., 2nd issue (775188 Sgt. J. G. Sandford, R.N.Z. Inf. Regt.); New Zealand Operational Service Medal, unnamed as issued; New Zealand General Service Medal, 2 clasps, Malaya 1960-64, Vietnam (775188 Cpl. J G Sandford RNZIR); Vietnam 1964-73 (775188 Sgt. J. G. Sandford, RNZIR); Army L.S. & G.C., E.II.R., 2nd issue, New Zealand (775188 WO1 J G Sandford RNZIR); New Zealand Defence Service Medal, 2 clasps, C.M.T. [Compulsory Military Training], Regular (775188 T/Cpl J G Sandford NZ Inf); Pingat Jasa Malaysia Medal, unnamed as issued; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, 1 clasp, 1960- (775188 J G Sandford) generally good very fine and better (8) £12,000-£15,000

D.C.M. London Gazette 30 September 1969 ‘V775188 Sgt John Grant Sandford ‘’V” Coy, 1st Bn Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment’

The original recommendation states: ‘Throughout his year of service in South Vietnam as a Platoon Sergeant in Victor Three Company, Sergeant Sanford displayed exemplary conduct, devotion to duty and professional ability. His loyalty, forceful leadership and aggressive demeanour were a fine example to his platoon.
On 3rd October, 1968 Sergeant Sandford while commanding 1 Platoon found three well concealed caches. Lacking Engineer assistance he personally undertook the dangerous investigation of the caches and their surrounds for mines and booby traps. His prompt and resourceful action resulted in the capture of 31,000 pounds of rice.
In November 1968 Sergeant Sandford again commanded 1 Platoon on operations. On the 10th November his platoon engaged an enemy force moving cautiously through the jungle. His excellent siting and control enabled the platoon to engage an alert enemy party at close range. The enemy survivors of the initial engagement took cover and returned fire. After a fierce firefight the enemy soldiers fled leaving one of their members firing from an almost inaccessible position. After placing a machine gun to give covering fire, Sergeant Sandford ran forward under fire to a position from where he could throw a grenade and, at great risk to himself, killed the remaining enemy soldier.
On 9th April 1969 Sergeant Sandford was again in command of 1 Platoon when it engaged a strong enemy party. He moved forward to the section most closely engaged and as he arrived in this section’s area the enemy threw a grenade, which landed close to several members of the section. Unhesitatingly Sergeant Sandford leapt forward, picked up the grenade and threw it back at the enemy. This unselfish act was successful. The grenade exploded to the front of the section and Sergeant Sandford and two other soldiers were only lightly wounded. At the conclusion of his action he elected to remain on duty commanding the platoon in spite of his wound.
Throughout his service in South Vietnam Sergeant Sandford distinguished himself as a skilled and courageous soldier, whose personal gallantry was an inspiration to the men under his command.’

John Grant Sandford was born in Blenheim, South Island, on 15 December 1937. As a result of a referendum in 1949, Compulsory Military Training (CMT) was reintroduced for all New Zealand males following their eighteenth birthday; at call-up, a choice was offered as to which of the three services to train with. Sandford chose to undergo training with the New Zealand Infantry Corps; he completed 14 weeks of intensive full-time military training in 1956, followed by an obligation to attend three years of scheduled part-time training. He was appointed Temporary Corporal, his CMT service was duly certified as ‘Efficient’ and he attested for the Regular Army, joining 1st New Zealand Regiment. Sandford married his wife Glenda on 6 June 1959 at Blenheim. They had two boys, born in New Zealand in 1959 and 1961, and a girl who was born in 1963 at Terendak Camp, Malacca.

The New Zealand government had committed troops to the British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve, a joint land, sea and air force incorporating units from Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. It was based in Malaya and Singapore, with the mission to deter communist aggression in South-East Asia. The land component was an infantry brigade, designated 28th British Commonwealth Brigade. After Malaya became independent in 1957, Bukit Terendak, close to Malacca, was selected as home base for 28th Brigade. Terendak would house the entire brigade group with its infantry battalions and support units, military hospital, airstrip, married quarters areas and shopping precinct. Terendak Camp sprawled across several square miles, with the Straits of Malacca as its south-western boundary. Construction and occupation of Terendak was complete by August 1962, bringing all units of 28th Brigade together on a single site. As a result, when the recently redesignated 1st New Zealand Battalion arrived at Terendak, it was accompanied by its families and became the first fully accompanied overseas posting in New Zealand’s military history. The 1st New Zealand Battalion would remain based at Terendak for almost a decade. During the 1960s, elements of the Brigade, either units or components of units, would be detached for short periods from 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade Group to other commands or formations for operations in Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo or South Vietnam.

Into action
During the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation that began on 20 January 1963, Sandford’s unit, recently renamed as 1st Battalion, Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment (1 RNZIR), would be committed to the conflict from September 1964, seeing service in Mainland Malaysia and Borneo. Initially, it mostly operated in the jungles of the Malaysian Border Security Area, along the northern frontier with Thailand, where the surviving Communist Terrorists had sought sanctuary. When Indonesian paratroopers landed in Johore, 1 RNZIR was one of the few Commonwealth units in the region and quickly hunted down the infiltrators. The following month, 52 Indonesian soldiers landed in Pontian on the Johore-Malacca border and were also captured by New Zealand soldiers. Sandford, now a Corporal, would later deploy with 1 RNZIR to Borneo, to combat Indonesian cross border infiltration. The Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation officially ended in May 1966.

By this time, New Zealand was coming under increasing American pressure to contribute combat troops to the Vietnam War. It sent humanitarian and construction teams and eventually an artillery battery, but this was soon considered insufficient. The government desperately wanted to avoid reintroducing conscription; instead, they drew personnel from designated companies of 1 RNZIR to form a special ‘V’ - for Vietnam service - Company of fully acclimatised, well-trained, experienced jungle fighters that would be sent to South Vietnam, initially for a six-month unaccompanied combat tour, at the end of which time it would return to Malaysia and be replaced by a newly constituted V2 Company. By the time Sandford, now a Sergeant and Platoon Commander, joined the third iteration (‘V3’ Company), the New Zealanders’ combat tours had been extended to 365 days, to match the tour duration of the US army. They also made extensive use of American weapons, equipment and clothing, replacing the mostly British issue of 28th Commonwealth Brigade.

By 1968, New Zealand was contributing two 1 RNZIR Companies, V3 and W2, which formed part of a joint Australian/New Zealand (ANZAC) battalion of five rifle companies. Sandford arrived by air in May 1968. On 1 June the two NZ Companies married up with 4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (4 RAR) and the joint Australian and New Zealand infantry forces became 4 RAR/NZ (ANZAC). The battalion was commanded by an Australian, with a New Zealand second-in-command. It formed part of 1st Australian Taskforce (1 ATF), whose Tactical Area of Responsibility (TAOR) was around Vung Tau, on the coast south-east of Saigon. Three-quarters of the TAOR was covered with rainforest and grassland. The South Vietnamese Government's authority was limited to the provincial capital, Bà Ria.

The principal communist forces in the TAOR were the 274th and 275th Regiments of the 5th Division, which included both South Vietnamese Viet Cong guerrillas and North Vietnamese Army (NVA) units. The 274th Regiment was the stronger and better trained of the two, with three battalions numbering 2,000 men. The 275th Regiment was based in the Mây Tào Mountains in an area known as the May Tao Secret Zone. The D445 Provincial Mobile Battalion operated throughout the TAOR with an estimated strength of 350 men. There were three district-based Viet Cong Local Force units: C23, the Xuyên Môc District Company; C25, the Dat Do District Company; and C41, the Châu Dúc District Company. The Viet Cong (VC) had built up an extensive cadre, political and guerrilla organisation that reached into every town and village. Roads were dangerous, subject to ambush and could be used only with a strong escort. The total number of communist fighters was estimated at about 5,000. Few locals supported the South Vietnamese government, which they perceived as remote, corrupt and uninterested in peasant livelihood issues, despite the fact that the national capital, Saigon, was nearby.

Into War
Sergeant Sandford’s Victor 3 Company deployed to Fire Base Horseshoe on 5 June 1968. A major contact occurred on 22 June when a V3 Company patrol tracked and killed three VC. The Company then discovered an enemy field camp containing 70-80 VC. A ferocious firefight ensued, with one New Zealander killed. The Company was pinned down but managed to fight off two enemy assaults. Helicopter gunships and mortar support saved the patrol from being wiped out. Four members of V3 Company were wounded in the battle, with 3 confirmed VC kills.

V3 Company joined 4 RAR/NZ for Operation
Merino, which began on 18 July. The operation involved extensive patrolling. On 22 July they found a bunker complex, called in airstrikes and artillery bombardments and mounted a battalion assault that night, only to find that the enemy had vanished. Merino ended on 29 July, with the battalion having been engaged in 33 days of continuous operations. On 1 August, V3 Company deployed in Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) escorted by tanks, to create a new Fire Base. V3 Company provided local defence for 161 Field Battery RNZA and B Battery, 2/35th US Artillery. The Company patrolled and established observation posts.

On 7 September Operation
Innamincka was launched, a cordon and sweep against a suspected enemy camp which involved both 1 RNZIR Companies and B and C Companies from 4 RAR. There were two minor contacts during the initial sweep, with one VC killed and one wounded by V3 Company. The operation became a battalion Reconnaissance-in-Force further west. V3 Company were flown into the western edge of the area and B Company moved south, while C and W2 companies commenced sweeping south-west. W2 Company made a minor contact, but the other Companies saw and heard nothing significant and they were all redeployed. On 14 September one man from W2 Company was killed by a sniper while on patrol and a tunnel system was discovered which contained caches of equipment, food and medical supplies. After further redeployment, all Companies made contact with the enemy. V3 Company ambushed and killed ten VC over the next two days. C Company found an enemy camp of 150 bunkers, killed two VC and captured much equipment and detailed enemy maps. Documents indicated the area was the headquarters of Viet Cong 84 Rear Service Group.

Sandford distinguished himself on 3 October when V3 Company mounted an independent operation,
Stirrup Cup, as part of the ‘rice-denial’ tactic. The company deployed to their target area in APCs; on arrival they discovered rice and other food supplies defended by a protection group of VC. Sandford’s 1 Platoon unearthed three well-hidden caches containing 31,000 lbs of rice, 55% of the total 23 tonnes of rice interdicted by V3 Company. Caches were routinely booby-trapped with a variety of lethal devices; undaunted by this, Sandford personally undertook the dangerous task of examining each stockpile and declaring it safe to handle. One VC was killed during the contact.

The next Operation (
Capital) was a follow-up in the area where the VC 84 Rear Service Group supplied local Communist forces, grew crops and stored large quantities of supplies and equipment. 4 RAR/NZ was deployed on 13 October. V3 Company worked with C and D Companies of 4 RAR patrolling east. On 16 October, V3 located a large enemy base camp complete with HQ command area, first aid post, printing equipment, kitchens, huts with bunkers underneath, female living quarters, and nineteen bunkers within a trench complex. Due to the size of the camp, V3 Company and the engineers needed two days to destroy it.
V3 Company and C Company 4 RAR conducted local patrols and ambushes around Firebase
Horseshoe. On 10 November, Sandford took 1 Platoon well outside of the Firebase defence perimeter, scouted possible sites to mount an ambush, positioned his sections around a killing zone and waited patiently. An enemy force appeared, moving slowly and cautiously through the jungle, alert for danger. Ambushes rarely develop as anticipated, and this one was no exception. Sandford triggered it at extremely close range, and several enemy soldiers were hit and fell. The enemy survivors of the initial engagement took cover and returned fire. After a fierce firefight, the enemy disengaged and withdrew with their casualties, under covering fire laid down by one brave VC who had reached a commanding and almost inaccessible position. After placing a section machine gun to give him covering fire, Sergeant Sandford ran forward under fire to a position from where he could throw a grenade and, at great risk to himself, killed the lone enemy soldier. On 16 November, V3 Company was fired on during an ambush which resulted in one New Zealander being killed. 4RAR/NZ remained in the area until 30 November, having completed 48 days of continuous operations.

On 30 January 1969, V3 Company joined an operation that quickly developed into ‘the battle of Hat Dich’. All four rifle companies made contacts with small groups of VC within a few hours of each other. Three members of V3 Company were wounded. A VC camp was discovered and quantities of ammunition, medical supplies and rice captured. By 7 February a Firebase was established near the village of Phuoc Long. V3 Company deployed to the south of the village, with B Company to the north and W2 Company to the east. Ambushes and patrols by all three Companies continued to make contact with the enemy. The New Zealand Companies claimed a dozen enemy killed and wounded over the three-day period of 8–10 February. On the night of 15 February, D Company ambushed 15 VC in six sampans travelling along the Suoi Cau river. Two sampans were sunk and six VC killed before the survivors made it to the river bank to engage the Australians with small arms and RPGs. On 16 February B Company was attacked by VC in a bunker system, resulting in two Australians killed and three wounded. Later intelligence suggested that the position had been occupied by the headquarters of the NVA 274th Regiment and one of its battalions.

North Vietnamese and Viet Cong losses during the battle of Hat Dich amounted to at least 245 killed, 39 possibly killed, 45 wounded and 17 captured. Nearly 2,000 bunkers were uncovered and destroyed, while 280 rocket propelled grenades, 70 anti-personnel mines, 490 grenades and 450 pounds of explosives were captured. The Communist forces in the Hat Dich area were significantly weakened.

For Operation
Federal at the end of February 1969, 4RAR/NZ was deployed east of the U.S base at Long Binh and south of the Song La Buong River. Enemy forces were expected to be 27rth VC Regiment and the newly relocated 33rd NVA Regiment. V3 Company was furthest north with B Company to the south and W2 Company alongside the river. On 23 February W2 Company had three small contacts with enemy groups up to six strong. That same night the Company position and a ten-man standing patrol both came under attack in a firefight lasting almost two hours. Four members of the patrol were wounded, but they killed the Commanding Officer of the NVA D525 Engineer Reconnaissance Battalion, whose mission was to breach the defence perimeter of Long Binh.

Operation
Overlander commenced in Biên Hòa Province on 8 April 1969 with C, D, V3, and W2 Companies sent in to search for VC forces that had been pushed south. On the next day Sergeant Sandford was again in command of 1 Platoon when it encountered and engaged a strong enemy party. Sandford moved up to his forward section. He reached it at the same time that an armed enemy hand grenade landed close by. Sandford leapt forward, gallantly picked up the grenade and threw it back towards the enemy. The grenade exploded to the front of the section and Sandford and two other soldiers were lightly wounded. Despite having had several pieces of shrapnel lodged in his left side, Sandford chose to remain in the field in command of his platoon once the larger metal fragments were extracted and the wounds dressed. On 13 April, V3 Company found a series of bunker systems and supply caches yielding key documents outlining details of the VC Supply Group supporting the Communist forces in the Hat Dich Secret Zone. On the same day, V3 Company found large quantities of ammunition, explosives, workshop tools and materials.

‘Pacification’ and ‘Vietnamization’
On 16 April, 1 ATF was advised of a change to operational priorities, with top priority given to implementing the ‘Pacification’ and ‘Vietnamization’ programs as part of the "Winning Hearts and Minds" strategy devised by the Americans. 1 ATF would be increasingly called upon to provide support to civil community reconstruction projects and assist in training South Vietnamese forces.

4 RAR/NZ's last battalion fight was Operation
Stafford from 17 April to 1 May, conducted in and around the Binh Ba rubber plantation. The objective was to find and destroy the local C41 District Company. Intelligence showed that 274th Regiment had moved into the area. V3 Company and C and D Companies patrolled. V3 Company was particularly successful, capturing a high-value VC operations officer from 274th Regiment on 28 April, thus ending their year-long tour on a high. On 8 May 1969, Victor 3 was replaced by Victor 4. By the end of their tour, Victor 3 had suffered two killed and 22 wounded.

Sandford returned to Terendak Camp, but not for long. 1 RNZIR relocated to Nee Soon Barracks on Singapore in December 1969. As one of the most highly decorated NCOs in the New Zealand Army, Sandford continued his ascent through the ranks, becoming one of the few Warrant Officers First Class in the Infantry. In 1971 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade Group was disestablished and 1 RNZIR came under the command of the tripartite ANZUK Force, relocating from Nee Soon to Dieppe Barracks. In 1974 ANZUK Force was disbanded. 1 RNZIR became the Infantry component of the New Zealand Force South East Asia until 1989 when 1 RNZIR was repatriated to Linton Camp in New Zealand. In August 1989, Warrant Officer 1 Sandford attended the final 1 RNZIR Parade and Closing Ceremony at Dieppe Barracks, Singapore.

Sold with seven original photographs of the recipient, four taken in Vietnam and three during the later stages of his career.