2 Lt G. M. Bassett, MC; Palmerston North; born Wellington, 23 Jul 1914; farmer; wounded 18 Oct 1944. (Source: Henderson, J. 22 Battalion. p.322.)

'But trouble was looming for 7 Platoon, which was holding a forward position on an open flank. After midnight a heavy enemy ‘stonk’ and smoke barrage came down, particularly round this platoon. Then, with bazookas, rifles and grenades an enemy party, thought to number fifty, closed in and surrounded the house, which was defended by two sections under Lieutenant Graham Bassett. In the following fight 7 Platoon, tried to the utmost, fought back viciously. Bazooka fire smashed into the casa's walls. Four men were wounded, including Bassett himself, and with the No. 38 radio set soon wrecked, the defenders lost all contact with Company Headquarters. Ignoring great pain from his wounds, Bassett kept control of his besieged platoon and, as further casualties were suffered, overcame the loss in manpower by cleverly altering the positions of his men.
For more than six hours and until well after dawn the enemy continued to press. The platoon's grand defence beat off every attack. With the coming of the longed-for dawn fire slackened, but then another strong party returned, again enveloped 7 Platoon's house, and in the ensuing heavy fire-fight made skilful use of haystacks and natural cover. Again 7 Platoon defied the attackers until tanks and 6 Platoon moved up in support. Then 200 yards away a white flag went up, and the exhausted platoon collected a number of prisoners. At least eight enemy dead lay about, and other casualties had been carried back in the night. For his ‘quiet, cool leadership, and his complete disregard for his personal safety’, Bassett received an immediate MC. Seven of his men were casualties.
Bassett writes: ‘It was a platoon show: every member of Number 7 played his part to the best of his ability and as I would have wished him to.’ He pays tribute to ‘the excellent work of Sergeant Ian Park who was killed in a later action. Park maintained the morale and discipline of the platoon after my wounds made me hand over.’' (Source: Henderson, J. 22 Battalion. pp. 374–5.) AWMM