| Citation: | Sek Kong, Hong Kong. 5 Aug 53. Duty NCO RMP.On 4th August 1953 at SE KONG, HONG KONG two soldiers absented themselves from their barracks, taking with them a sten gun and ammunition which they has stolen from the arms store. They engaged a taxi and rode in it into the country. On a lonely stretch of the road they held up the taxi driver at the point of the loaded gun, struck him, bound and gagged him, stole his watch and money, and threw him out of the vehicle. They then took the taxi and drove away in it. Lance Corporal CUTHBERT was aware that these two soldiers were absent without leave, were armed and that they had already used the gun to obtain possession of the taxi. On the evening of 5th August 1953 Lance Corporal CUTHBERT was on motor cycle patrol accompanied by another Military Police NCO, Corporal ESSON. The two NCOs were searching the countryside for the missing men and the taxi. At 2120 hrs a car answering the description of the stolen taxi passed them going in the other direction. Both immediately turned their motor cycles around and gave chase. Corporal ESSON managed to stop the can and when Lance Corporal CUTHBERT joined him they both quickly drew their revolvers and Corporal ESSON grabbed the sten gun which was found to be loaded. The two NCOs then ordered the men to get out of the taxi and afterwards marched them some 500 yards to the nearest Military building. L/Cpl CUTHBERT , a keen young National Service NCO showed outstanding initiative and presence of mind in dealing with an armed man. L/Cpl CUTHBERT displayed great courage and disregard for his own safety in effecting these arrests. It is considered that his conduct in this incident was of the highest order.Maj G C D S Lowe TD, DAPM HQ Land Forces Hong Kong. Col J A Hopwood IC Admin Land Forces Hong Kong.Maj-Gen GOC land Forces Hong Kong. C in C Far East Land Forces. National Archive WO 373/122.Also shown in Corps Journal 3rd Quarter 1954. |
