| Place | Africa: North Africa, Western Desert, Western Desert (Egypt), El Alamein Area, Tel el Eisa |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM32122.002 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Award |
| Physical description | Silver |
| Location | Main Bld: World War 2 Gallery: Gallery 2: El Alamein |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | United Kingdom |
| Date made | c 1942 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
Military Medal : Private R G McGregor, 2/2 Machine Gun Battalion
Description
Military Medal (Geo VI). Impressed around edge with recipient's details.
History / Summary
NX27134 Private Ronald George McGregor was born on 5 September 1916 at Ganmain, New South Wales. He enlisted on 26 June 1940. After training at Wallgrove and Dubbo he embarked from Sydney on 9 April 1941 for the Middle East, arriving on 3 May. He taken on strength of 2/2nd Machine Gun Battalion (MG Bn) on 23 July. McGregor was awarded the Military Medal for his actions on 22 July 1942 at Tel El Eisa. The citation reads as follows: 'In the TELL EL EISA area on 22 July 42, NX27134, Pte. McGregor, R. G. was No. 3 on a V[Vickers]MG of No. 3 Pl of D Coy of an Aust MG Bn. The Sec went into action but were forced to withdraw about 300 yards after they had suffered heavy casualities, one man being killed and six wounded. There were only six men, including the Pl Comd, remaining. During this withdrawal to the new posn Pte. McGREGOR went forward again, under heavy fire, and regardless of personal safety, to carry his No. 1, who had been wounded, back. He then returned and brought back his gun, and assisted in manning it. This section was largely responsible for the ultimate success of the attack '. Four days later McGregor received a gunshot wound to his left shoulder, which became infected. He spent time in hospital before rejoining his unit on 23 September. In January 1943 he left the Middle East for Australia, arriving in Sydney on 27 February. After a foot operation in May, he embarked with the 2/2nd MG Bn on board the ship Howell Cobb, from Cairns in Queensland for Milne Bay in New Guinea, arriving on 18 August. He served in New Guinea until 25 February, when he embarked from Finschhafen on board Sea Snipe, disembarking at Brisbane on 4 March 1944. McGregor was hospitalised for a month with malaria in May, and again for two weeks in July. He was attached to the Australian Army Service Corps in August for a month and then transferred to a staging camp. McGregor was discharged on 7 April 1945, being required for employment in an essential occupation.