Description
The Sultan’s Distinguished Service Medal (Midal Khidmat al-Mumtaza us-Sultaniya) was instituted by Sultan Said bin Taimur in 1967. Awarded for distinguished service or devotion to duty over a long period, and for conspicuous acts of gallantry at risk of life, but not in the face of the enemy.
Citation
At AKOOT on 27th April 1972, during a four-hour-long battle at close quarters in which an officer and three men were wounded, Sergeant COSTELLO showed exceptional courage and devotion to duty by evacuating the injured.
To do this he had to leave his car, whilst under considerable enemy fire, and lift them onto the engine decks before he drove them to safety.
Not satisfied with this Sergeant COSTELLO, realising that the machine guns were very short of ammunition, returned with several boxes of Browning and GPMG ammunition on his armoured car.
Enemy fire was still such that in order to deliver the ammunition, he had to again leave the safety of his car and crawl forward to the machine gun positions with the ammunition on his back. He did this on three occasions.
It was largely due to Sergeant COSTELLO’s prompt and brave action that our own troops were able to continue firing and withdraw at last light without further casualties.
