Major Richard Sutton graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in 1960. He was posted to 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment in November, 1968, as Officer Commanding A Company.
Major Sutton has commanded A Company with distinction and outstanding success throughout operations in 1969. His aggressive leadership and skilful handling of his company has resulted in the capture and destruction of over one thousand enemy bunkers, the capture of large quantities of arms, ammunition and supplies and over sixty enemy killed.
In June, 1969, elements of A Company were pinned down by heavy rocket, machine gun and grenade fire in front of an enemy battalion headquarters position entrenched in mountain caves. Major Sutton immediately placed his company headquarters in a position under fire from the enemy, from which he could best direct operations. Throughout this seven hour fire fight he showed outstanding ability to assess the situation and issue orders under the most difficult and dangerous circumstances. His coolness under fire was an inspiration to all his men.
In August, 1969, A Company had numerous contacts with enemy main force units. On three occasions elements of A Company contacted superior sized enemy forces including an enemy battalion entrenched in bunkers. Such was the morale and offensive spirit of A Company that these numerically superior enemy forces were attacked and forced to abandon their positions leaving twenty killed.
Major Sutton has taken every opportunity to aggressively locate and destroy the enemy. His actions reflect great credit on himself, The Royal Australian Regiment and the Australian Army.