Review & presentation day by General Auchinleck, 9th Division

With simple, impressive ceremonial, fifty-six officers and men of the AIF who had been decorated for gallantry and outstanding service, received the ribbon of their decorations from the GOC in Command Middle East (ME) General Sir Claude Auchinleck, at an investiture in Syria on 28 March, 1942. First to receive the ribbon was the newly appointed GOC AIF (ME) Major General Sir Leslie Morshead, who received the Order of KBE Most of the officers and men decorated with him, had also served under him in famous 9 Division Australian Division which held the Axis at bay in Tobruk for seven weary months. Other senior Australian officers decorated were VX46983 Brigadier Raymond Walter Tovell (CBE, DSO and bar), VX25 Brigadier Arthur Harry Langham Godfrey (DSO and bar) VX37 Colonel Herbert Gibling Furnell, (CBE, DSO), VX44 Colonel Thomas Page Cook (CBE,OBE ) and 327 (VX15120) Colonel Henry Wells (CBE, DSO. OBE).