This petition to demand the AWM recognise the 2nd D&E Platoon may well come to nought. Slope-shouldered bureaucrats and historians who never dared set foot on a battlefield themselves are reluctant to change their opinion. But if nothing else, this petition will open eyes to the rottenness within the military bureaucracy in Australia which is prepared to put the lives of ordinary infantry privates at risk to secure gallantry medals for officers. The 2nd D&E Platoon was set before an army of up to 800 VC, split up among a dozen APCs, with no officer in command (of the infantry component), no sergeant, no medic, and outside the range of artillery- all contrary to accepted military practice of the day. And only survived because of the leadership of an English Marine, Corporal Jim Riddle. Two gallantry medals eventuated from the actions of the 2nd D&E Platoon- but not to any man in that platoon. One Star of Gallantry went to Capt Tom Arrowsmith who fought from the relative safety of his APC, and a Military Cross went to Lt Ray Woolan who was 30 kilometres from the successful ambush at the time.