GROUPS AND SINGLE DECORATIONS FOR GALLANTRY
823
A superb immediate D.C.M. awarded to Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant (late Drum Major) Thomas Mattock, 5th
Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, for gallantry during the withdrawal from the Gazala Line in Libya in June 1942,
when he personally destroyed two enemy machine-gun posts and was badly wounded; he was recommended for the
‘highest possible immediate award’
DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL, G.VI.R. (4739803 W.O. Cl. II T. A. Mattock, E. York R.); 1939-45 STAR; AFRICA STAR, clasp, 8th
Army; ITALY STAR; DEFENCE AND WAR MEDALS; EFFICIENCY MEDAL, Territorial, G.V.R., with two additional clasps (4739803 Pte. T.
Mattock, 5-Y. & L.R.) the stars sometime gilded, light contact marks, otherwise very fine (7) £4000-5000
D.C.M. London Gazette 24 September 1942.
The published recommendation states: ‘C.S.M. Mattock is C.S.M. of “B”
Company. On the evening of the 14th June, 1942, during the breakout through
the enemy lines the Company was under terrific fire from artillery, M.M.Gs and
anti-tank guns. C.S.M. Mattock, accompanied by a Private soldier, attacked and
destroyed the whole crew of an enemy M.G. post which had been holding up his
Company’s advance. C.S.M. Mattock then advanced on another post. He was
wounded in the face and arm by a Breda bomb but in spite of this he accounted
for this post and on the way back took a prisoner who attempted to stop him.’
A much expanded account is given in the original ‘Official Citation to GHQ
MEF’ submitted by Brigadier-General J. S. Nichols, DSO, MC, Durham Light
Infantry, commanding 50th (Northumbrian) Division, and countersigned by
Colonel C. Cooke-Collis, DSO, Green Howards, Commanding 69th Infantry
Brigade, and Lieutenant-Colonel G. Stansfield, MC, Commanding 5th Battalion,
The East Yorkshire Regiment. It states:
‘Company Sergeant Major Thomas Arthur Mattock is the C.S.M. of “B” Company
of the 5th Bn. The East Yorkshire Regiment.
On the evening of June 14th 1942 during the withdrawal from the Gazala line in
Libya, the CSM went into the attack on the company PU [Personnel Utility
vehicle] with “B” Company as spearhead company. When the smoke of the shell
fire and the dust of the tanks cleared away the PU was about 150 yards away
from a Breda and Reville Machine gun nest; there was a similar nest in the rear
that they had overrun. The PU was hit by an anti-tank shell and set ablaze, this
brought fire from the two nests, and for some time owing to the heavy and
intense fire, the personnel of the PU were unable to move.
However, when it was dark this CSM went to fetch up the rest of the Company
on to their objective, but was fired on from the nest 150 yards away, he went in
with a private soldier to clear the post, but the private soldier was mortally
Drum-Major Mattock, left, before the war
wounded before they contacted, although only armed with a rifle and some hand
grenades, the CSM went on alone, accounted for his men, and smashed up the
guns by firing into the locks.
He then went to clear out the nest in the rear which was pinning down the Company, although he was wounded about the neck,
shoulders and face he carried on and accounted for his men with hand grenades, and brought back a prisoner who tried to stop him.
He was then pinned down by our own barrage for at least two hours which had opened up to support the spearhead Company, the
support group not knowing that the way had been made clear by the CSMs brilliant action.
He was then put on a carrier and he brought through the “gap” a number of transport which were lost; he brought them to the Egyptian
border without the loss of one vehicle, using the stars as his guide in navigation.
His action on the 28th June 1942 was very commendable. He took over the duties of Company Commander (his own commander was
acting as navigator to the composite battle group which “B” Company was part of); during his time in this capacity he brought the
Company through heavy anti-tank fire without the loss of one vehicle, at times he was going up and down the column on foot giving
directions to his men and instructions reference the attack, also cheering the men by his own good spirits and disregard for his own
safety.
Recommended for the Highest possible immediate award.’
www.dnw.co.uk
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