Major Murray Phillip Blake graduated from The Royal Military College, Duntroon, in 1960. He was posted to 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, in June 1968 as Officer Commanding D Company. Major Blake has commanded D Company with outstanding success throughout his tour of operations. displaying at all times a disregard for his own safety and professional ability of the highest order. Under his skilful handling and personal leadership, D Company has killed 104 enemy in numerous close contacts.
During April 1969, D Company located a senior enemy headquarters which had been unsuccessfully sought by allied forces for eight months. D Company came under heavy and accurate rocket and machine gun fire from a resolute enemy force entrenched in bunkers. In a widespread and bitter action lasting almost two days. Major Blake directed his company in a manner that was a source of inspiration to all his men and resulted in the capture of the enemy headquarters and much of their equipment. During this action, Major Blake, in efforts to ascertain more accurate information of the enemy positions, became personally involved in close quarter fighting with enemy in bunkers.
In June 1969, after an enemy Battalion had occupied the village of Binh Ba, Major Blake commanded D Company which was involved with other supporting arms in counter attacking the enemy. Over a period of two days, so skilful and determined was his leadership and the handling of his platoons. that the enemy suffered a major defeat in which over 100 were killed and large quantities of weapons and equipment captured for the loss of only one member of D Company killed in action.
Major Blake has continued to seek out and destroy the enemy on every occasion. His actions reflect great credit on himself, The Royal Australian Regiment and the Australian Army.