Sergeant Trevor Flutey
Trevor Neil Flutey. 39074. Sergeant. Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment. Whisky Two Company. New Zealand Gazette Number 20 dated 2 April 1970. The late Sergeant Flutey joined the Regular Force Cadets in January 1960. Following his graduation into Infantry he held a number of appointments and saw service in Malaysia and Borneo. He arrived in Vietnam as a Platoon Sergeant in Whisky Two Company on 14 November 1968. On 23 February 1969, Sergeant Flutey was commanding a standing patrol forward of his company defended position. During the early hours of the night the main company position and the standing patrol both came under attack from an enemy using automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades. Sergeant Flutey’s ten man patrol suffered four casualties. It was not possible to withdraw the patrol because of the attack on the main company position nearby and the intense artillery and mortar defensive fire being brought down on all sides. On being ordered to remain in his position Sergeant Flutey moved amongst his patrol reassuring the wounded and encouraging the survivors. During this time a lone enemy who penetrated the patrol position was killed. He was subsequently identified as the commanding officer of a North Vietnamese engineer reconnaissance battalion. When he finally received orders to withdraw, Sergeant Flutey skilfully led his patrol, carrying and assisting their wounded, through the enemy positions and the defensive artillery and mortar fire to rejoin Whisky Company in the main position. Sergeant Flutey displayed great coolness and excellent leadership in a most dangerous and confusing situation. Not only did he lead his patrol expertly back to the main company position, and without further loss, but a sweep the next morning revealed, that prior to doing so, his patrol had inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy. Sergeant Flutey’s bravery, sense of duty and determined leadership contributed markedly to the successful outcome of his patrol. His conduct reflected great credit on himself, his unit and the New Zealand Army. Sergeant Flutey’s award is being received today by his widow Mrs Dawn Flutey.