Letters relating to the wounding of Arthur Roden Cutler at the Battle of Damour and recommendation for the Victoria Cross, 1941

Letter received by Arthur Cutler
from his Commanding Officer.
VX15127 Lt. Col. J. W. O'Brien,
2/5 Fd. Regt. A.I.F. ABROAD.
13.7.41.
My dear Rho,
I tried very hard to get down to see you before you left Saida
but with one or two battles on my hands, it proved impossible. However, I
was delighted to hear that your recovery was so rapid and that you were able
to move such sooner than was anticipated.
Words don't do much good at these times, but I do want to say
that it is that little "band of gallant gentlemen" - Morris, Clark and
yourself - that gave this regiment a soul as well as just being a material
organization of men and machines. Your doings & their doings put a spirit
into the unit which will carry on, for already we feel and know that we have
a name which is superior to any other unit and any other enemy. For example,
you were with us the other day when A Troop went ahead of everything except
a tank or two, swung into action in a few seconds and "Fixed on enemy battery
firing at them in record time, one section doing it over open sights. 1t is
the examples the lads have had before them that allows them to do it and
although the cost to you has been terrific, it has not been in vain. The
cost to the regiment in losing the three of you has also been terrific but,
and I cannot emphasize it too much, it has set a pattern and a guide.
I have not told you officially before but you have been recommended
for an award of the Victoria Cross and the C.R.A. has directed that details
of the actions at Merygadoun be published in all regiments. I don't know
whether they will grant the V.C. but everyone here considers it should &
must be given.
In the meantime, everyone in the Regiment wishes you the best of
luck & good health & hopes that before very long you will be getting about
O.K.
Yours sincerely,
JOHN W. O’BRIEN
 

A.R. Cutler
Mr A.J. Spencer,
C/- Public Trust Office
Box 7A G.P.O.
Sydney
N.SW.
 

1st Aus Gen Hosp.
Abroad
14th Aug 41
Dear Athol,
I'm not up to writing a

letter yet, but here's a note. First
to answer your questions.
There's little to tell re Col
Morris. The enemy evidently thought the
spot was a likely absent fort
because they just put a barrage
of mortar fire down on it, and
as luck would have it it landed
t dead on our O.P. One mortar
killed Col and his assistant Peter
Brathwaite stone dead - direct hit
-took Col's right side away & split 
Peter in 2 at the chest. It also
inflicted fatal head wounds on
the signaller.
The signaller, who had
just been relieved was some
distance away sleeping, but was
awakened immediately and he
rushed to the phone. A truck
left straight away, but there
was nothing to be done.
I suppose you know my
tale of woe. Firstly I got my

captaincy, then I was recommended
for the Military Cross. I had narrow
escape after narrow escape until
4 days before armistice was
declared then a cow of a frog
got me in the leg with an
explosive bullet – smashed it
to bits. The blanky battalion
left me out for 27 hours, and
eventually my own unit's M.O.
found me in a hell of a mess.
He got me back over pretty
rugged ground and 35 hrs after
I was hit, they operated.
The amputation was a
beautiful job, but the explosive
had let me in for sand fly fever
and puss formed on my chest.
I'had tubes in my back and
leg – transfusions of about
6 types – a special sister, but
here I am now on the brink
of getting my first outing
in a wheelchair.
Im afraid it developed into a
letter about myself. Bungle Athol old. boy
A.R. Cutler.