Philippines. Mr Clifford Bottomley, Department of Information war photographer, has been awarded ...

Philippines. Mr Clifford Bottomley, Department of Information war photographer, has been awarded the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, in recognition of his work during the Leyte Campaign. He is the first Australian to receive this decoration, which he is entitled to wear with two bronze stars. Bottomley landed with the invasion forces under General MacArthur on Leyte on 20 October 1944 (A-Day) and until the successful conclusion of the campaign three months later, was the only Australian war photographer covering the Philippines theatre. He had a narrow escape, when an American war correspondent standing next to Bottomley in a jeep was killed by a Japanese sniper. Major General B. J. Valdes, Chief of Staff of the Filipino Army in making the presentation to Bottomley said: 'May this ribbon serve to express to you the recognition of the Filipino people for their liberation from the Japanese domination.' Cliff Bottomley has seen much service as a Department of Information photographer in this war. He covered the Malayan campaign for two months before he was forced to leave Singapore for Batavia. A fortnight later he was again forced to retreat and was shipped to Australia. In September 1942, he arrived at Port Moresby, covered the Kokoda Trail, Buna and Sanananda campaigns. During the latter campaign he was wounded and was hospitalised for two months. After a spell in Australia he was returned to New Guinea.