Meritorious Service Medal for Perry Neil

RSL VICTORIA State President Dr Robert Webster OAM visited Korumburra RSL sub-branch on Sunday, bestowing a special honour on local Life Member and Vietnam veteran Perry Neil.

Perry received his Meritorious Service Medal, the highest honour the RSL presents to an individual, having contributed extensively to the Korumburra RSL since joining in 1972.

He has filled every executive position, most on multiple occasions, and is currently the welfare and properties officer.

The Meritorious Service Medal is not handed out lightly, being a prestigious national award with strict limits on the number issued in each state per year, currently only six in Victoria.

“Perry, it’s absolutely fabulous what you do for the League and your community, and it’s thoroughly deserved,” the RSL Victoria State President said after attaching the medal to Perry’s jacket.

He told the Sentinel-Times afterwards that presenting such awards locally is something that was introduced after the pandemic, saying it is terrific for the recipients to be surrounded by those who have benefited from their service.

In the past, the Meritorious Service Medal would have been presented at a statewide gathering rather than a sub-branch, meaning most people Perry knows could not have attended.

Perry was nominated by those at his local sub-branch, with his suitability for the honour reviewed at state level and a recommendation that he receive the medal then being sent to the RSL’s National Committee for approval.

“It’s a great honour,” the recipient told his delighted audience.

While those present recognised the significance of the occasion, there was plenty of banter and good humour throughout the ceremony.

After receiving his medal, Perry queried whether a bar would be added to it if he delivers another 50 years of service, adding he has the utmost faith in medical science.

When formalities concluded, Perry outlined what prompted him to join Korumburra RSL over 50 years ago.

He recognised the service that the RSL was giving to ex-service personnel at the time, both men and women.

“I was proud to be part of the organisation and to help serve and continue RSL traditions,” he said adding those include Anzac Day and Remembrance Day commemorations.

“I’ve held funerals for so many of the Second World War Diggers,” Perry said.

His own military service began when he was called up in 1967, being attached to the 1st Battalion Royal Australian Regiment after training, and was sent into action in 1968.

Eventually being sent about 40 kilometres North as part of a blocking force to thwart the North Vietnamese, things didn’t go according to plan.

“We were dropped in the wrong spot, pretty much right on top of the North Vietnamese regular army’s camps and they’d seen us coming in,” Perry said.

Contact ensued and in the early morning of May 13, 1968, the North Vietnamese attacked the Fire Support Base set up to protect the guns of those fighting them. 

“We were outside the perimeter in an ambush position and the North Vietnamese army attacked us first with a barrage of rockets, and I was one of the wounded and was choppered out to an American hospital,” Perry said. 

Sixteen of the Australians were killed that night.

That sparked the battle of Coral-Balmoral, the names belonging to two fire support bases, with the battle lasting close to 30 days before the North Vietnamese were pushed back.

Perry returned to service in Australia.

He was discharged in April 1969, returning to civilian life.

While some RSL branches in those days rejected Vietnam Veterans, that was not the case locally.

“I was welcomed with open arms here,” Perry said of the Korumburra RSL.

In addition to his military contribution and extensive service to Korumburra RSL, Perry has long been a valuable part of Legacy as well as being a volunteer tour guide at Coal Creek and the Korumburra Business Association’s Santa Claus.

His medal is indisputably an honour well earned.