235328 Lieutenant Errol John Lee, 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Age 22 from Ashfield NSW. Lee died on 11th May 1969.
Lieutenant John Lee graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in December 1967. He was posted to 5 RAR and appointed Platoon Commander of 1 Platoon, A Company. He married Barbara Kirk in late 1968 just a short while before he departed for active service in South Vietnam.
Lieutenant Lee was a very competent and aggressive young infantry commander whose platoon had the honour of having the battalion's first contact with the enemy forces during its second tour in 1969. His well-trained platoon was to have many more successful battles with the enemy.
On 11th May 1969 A Company was operating on the northern slopes of the Nui Thi Vai hills. While moving up a spur, Lieutenant Lee's platoon came under fire from enemy forces concealed in caves. Lieutenant Lee moved forward of his platoon position to conduct a reconnaissance in preparation for an attack but was shot and severely wounded by a well-camouflaged enemy. Repeated attempts and assaults were made by A Company over a period of several hours in attempts to extricate Lieutenant Lee from his position just 10 metres in front of the heavily defended cave system. Repeatedly withering enemy fire halted those rescue attempts. Finally, elements of 3 Platoon, supported by a flame-thrower from the Assault Pioneer Platoon, succeeded in reaching him but, tragically, this fine officer had been mortally wounded.
Date of Burial - Tuesday, 27th May 1969.
Lieutenant John Lee graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in December 1967. He was posted to 5 RAR and appointed Platoon Commander of 1 Platoon, A Company. He married Barbara Kirk in late 1968 just a short while before he departed for active service in South Vietnam.
Lieutenant Lee was a very competent and aggressive young infantry commander whose platoon had the honour of having the battalion's first contact with the enemy forces during its second tour in 1969. His well-trained platoon was to have many more successful battles with the enemy.
On 11th May 1969 A Company was operating on the northern slopes of the Nui Thi Vai hills. While moving up a spur, Lieutenant Lee's platoon came under fire from enemy forces concealed in caves. Lieutenant Lee moved forward of his platoon position to conduct a reconnaissance in preparation for an attack but was shot and severely wounded by a well-camouflaged enemy. Repeated attempts and assaults were made by A Company over a period of several hours in attempts to extricate Lieutenant Lee from his position just 10 metres in front of the heavily defended cave system. Repeatedly withering enemy fire halted those rescue attempts. Finally, elements of 3 Platoon, supported by a flame-thrower from the Assault Pioneer Platoon, succeeded in reaching him but, tragically, this fine officer had been mortally wounded.
Date of Burial - Tuesday, 27th May 1969.
235328 Lieutenant Errol John Lee, 5th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Age 22 from Ashfield NSW. Lee died on 11th May 1969.
Lieutenant John Lee graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in December 1967. He was posted to 5 RAR and appointed Platoon Commander of 1 Platoon, A Company. He married Barbara Kirk in late 1968 just a short while before he departed for active service in South Vietnam.
Lieutenant Lee was a very competent and aggressive young infantry commander whose platoon had the honour of having the battalion's first contact with the enemy forces during its second tour in 1969. His well-trained platoon was to have many more successful battles with the enemy.
On 11th May 1969 A Company was operating on the northern slopes of the Nui Thi Vai hills. While moving up a spur, Lieutenant Lee's platoon came under fire from enemy forces concealed in caves. Lieutenant Lee moved forward of his platoon position to conduct a reconnaissance in preparation for an attack but was shot and severely wounded by a well-camouflaged enemy. Repeated attempts and assaults were made by A Company over a period of several hours in attempts to extricate Lieutenant Lee from his position just 10 metres in front of the heavily defended cave system. Repeatedly withering enemy fire halted those rescue attempts. Finally, elements of 3 Platoon, supported by a flame-thrower from the Assault Pioneer Platoon, succeeded in reaching him but, tragically, this fine officer had been mortally wounded.
Date of Burial - Tuesday, 27th May 1969.
Lieutenant John Lee graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in December 1967. He was posted to 5 RAR and appointed Platoon Commander of 1 Platoon, A Company. He married Barbara Kirk in late 1968 just a short while before he departed for active service in South Vietnam.
Lieutenant Lee was a very competent and aggressive young infantry commander whose platoon had the honour of having the battalion's first contact with the enemy forces during its second tour in 1969. His well-trained platoon was to have many more successful battles with the enemy.
On 11th May 1969 A Company was operating on the northern slopes of the Nui Thi Vai hills. While moving up a spur, Lieutenant Lee's platoon came under fire from enemy forces concealed in caves. Lieutenant Lee moved forward of his platoon position to conduct a reconnaissance in preparation for an attack but was shot and severely wounded by a well-camouflaged enemy. Repeated attempts and assaults were made by A Company over a period of several hours in attempts to extricate Lieutenant Lee from his position just 10 metres in front of the heavily defended cave system. Repeatedly withering enemy fire halted those rescue attempts. Finally, elements of 3 Platoon, supported by a flame-thrower from the Assault Pioneer Platoon, succeeded in reaching him but, tragically, this fine officer had been mortally wounded.
Date of Burial - Tuesday, 27th May 1969.
Gravesite Details
Officially Commemorated on New South Wales Garden of Remembrance, Rookwood - Wall 1. Panel K.
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