Story 16 - Signaller Alexander Young

  Battlefield  Communication Wing

Honouring Signalman Alex Young KIA FSPB Coral May 1968

New sign at BCW Battlefield Communications Wing, 1st Combat Signal Regiment Sign

On the 8th August 2018, the 1st Combat Signal Regiment formally opened the Signaller Alexander Young  Battlefield  Communication Wing, the first of its kind to be embedded into a Combat Signal Regiment of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals. 

The establishment of the wing enables all units within the 1st Brigade the opportunity to hone their skills in digital literacy – skills which have become paramount for militaries in the 21st century.

Central to the ceremony was an unveiling of a plaque by HQ FORCOMD G6 Col Darren Moore, CSM and Mrs Lynette McHale commemorating the involvement of 104 Sig Sqn in the Battle of Coral Balmoral, South Vietnam with a dedication to 104 Sig Sqn lineman, Signalman Young, who was KIA during the battle.  Lynette is the younger sister of the fallen Signalman.  

Unveiling the plaque 
Unveiling the plaque by HQ FORCOMD G6 Col Darren Moore, CSM and Mrs Lynette McHale

The Commanding Officer of 1CSR, Lt Col Daren Pettersen, CSC also hosted the Commander 1 Bde, Brig Matthew Pearse, AM and 104 Sig Sqn Vietnam Veteran Denis Hare, BEM.

After the ceremony at the Abraham Club Lt Col Pettersen presented Lynette with her brother's posthumously Unit Citation for Gallantry (UCG) insignia that was awarded to all members of 1ATF (Forward) involved in the Battle of Coral Balmoral in May/June 1968.   For details of the  Royal Australian Corps of Signals in the Battle of Coral Balmoral (Operation Toan Thang) see  http://coral-balmoral.au104.org/Page_5.html

Lt Col Pettersen
1CSR on Parade

Lt Col Pettersen
Lt Col Daven Pettersen, CSC addressing his Regiment at the Parade Ceremony   

Lynette with Tp Comds
Lt Matushevsky, Lt Thomas, Denis Hare, Frank McHale, Lynette McHale and Lt Peter.  The Lt's are all 104 Sig Sqn Troop Commanders.  Note: Lynette is wearing the posthumously awarded Unit Citation for Gallantry (UCG) insignia for her brother KIA at the Battle of Coral Balmoral

Denis Hare doing presentation to the Troop
Denis Hare doing a presentation on Pronto in South Vietnam

UCG
Unit Citation for Gallantry

Unit Citation for Gallantry (UCG) was awarded to 65 members of 104 Sig Sqn that were involved in the Battle of Coral Balmoral as part of the 1st Australian Task Force (Forward). 

Awarded on the 13th May 2018 (50th Anniversary of the battle).  

Note:  The Australian Army changed the Private rank in the Royal Australian Corps of Signals from Signalman, as used during the Vietnam war period, to Signaller from late 1990s.  

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