Dave Abols DCM

[Aave Johns]

I was at a mess dinner the other night and met Dave Abols. We were in mess undress, so it was miniature medals, but that didn't make his rack of gongs any less impressive.

DCM, GSM (NI), SAM, Iraq Medal, Coronation Medal and the ACSM.

It didn't even click that the DCM is, for NCOs, the next gong down from the VC.

I Googled him the next day, feck me, I was most impressed. He has now joined the Australian army as an officer. He is very down to earth.

He said,'If I had been fecking shot I would have had the VC, but I survived and I wear this for me mates who didn't make it.'

Regards;

Johnsy

[Paul B]

Hi Johnsy

Many participants in the battle for Goose Green have commented over the years that it was mainly Abols' actions -in particular destroying the enemy "command trench" with a 66 LAW- which really tipped the balance in A Coy's favour on that part of the battlefield.

I seem to remember reading somewhere ("Spearhead Assault" by John Geddes, ex-2/PARA) that Abols' father had served with the Wehrmacht on the Eastern Front and had been awarded the EKII...!

All the best

Paul.