Distinguished Conduct Medal - WX14757 Corporal Merv Hall, 2/16 Battalion

The citation for the award of Merv Hall’s Distinguished Conduct Medal reads::
During the attack on Shaggy Ridge on 27 December 43, Corporal Hall was almost entirely responsible for the success of the operation. The attack took place over precipitous ground, already made more difficult as a result of heavy bombing and shelling, which necessitated crawling on hands and knees to reach the first part of the objective - a strongly fortified pillbox occupied by five enemy with two machine guns.
Observing that his Sergeant - WX 4241 Sergeant McMahon who had crawled to within a few feet of the post - was in trouble, Corporal Hall advanced alone, in the face of a hail of grenades and machine gun fire, to the entrance of the pillbox and killed one of the occupants with a burst from his Owen Gun. A second Jap leapt out of the post with a knife at Corporal Hall but he battered the enemy with the butt of his Owen Gun and with grenades, quickly silenced the remaining occupants.
Although almost blinded by grenade wounds, Corporal Hall advanced ahead of his section to a second post one hundred yards along the one man track of the razor back and attacked with undiminishing dash and lack of regard for his safety. Only when his section were able to get forward and assist in the battle did he consent to go back for medical attention.
Corporal Hall’s fearless leadership and remarkable courage against almost impossible odds enabled his platoon to consolidate on the nearly won ground and gain the objective.

The Army Museum of Western Australia (AMWA) is most fortunate to hold Merv Hall’s Distinguished Conduct Medal and four campaign medals in its collection, as his contribution as a Western Australian is significant to our military history and heritage. Additionally, Hall’s identity discs were also donated to the museum. These identity discs are clearly visible in the accompanying photograph