GALLANT DEEDS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 300, 19 December 1945, Page 7

GALLANT DEEDS

MEN OF ALL SERVICES

INVESTITURE IN TOWN HALL

In the last investiture he will hold in Auckland, his Excellency the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, presented awards to 49 members of the Services in the Town Hall last night. The scene was a colourful one, and as each recipient received his award, following the reading of his citation by the Governor-General's military secretary, Major H. A. Jaffray, the audience, which though comparatively small was representative of the community, broke into spontaneous hand-clapping. This was particularly pronounced when LanceSergeant Haane Manahi, of Rotorua, bowed to their Excellencies after the Distinguished Conduct Medal had been pinned to his chest.

The citations revealed great acts of gallantry, skill and devotion to duty, which have made New Zealand's lighting sons famous in all the theatres of war in which they have been engaged.

Sharp at S o'clock their Excellencies, accompanied by the official party, which included Major Jaffray, Commodore W. K. D. Dowding, D.S.C., R.N., Brigadier A. E. Conway, 0.8. E., N.Z.S.C., Group-Captain C. C. Hunter, R.N.Z.A.F., and Lieu-tenant-Colonel P. J. Gwilliam, E.D., ascended the carpeted stairs on to the floral-bedecked dais. The recipients were lined up on one side of the hall and as each one's name was called he stepped into the centre of the hall, in front of where the Mayor and Mayoress, Mr. and Mrs. Allum. were seated, until the citation was read and he was summoned to proceed to the dais for the presentation. The ceremony occupied an hour and a half.

The following awards were presented:—

Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.).—Brigadier Harry Selwyn Kenrick, C.8., E.D. (Auckland).

Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.).—Colonel Gordon James Oliphant Stewart, E.D. (Morningside); LieutenantColonel John Burns Ferguson, M.C. (Remuera); Lieutenant-Colonel John Nesbit Anderson (Patea); Lieuten-ant-Colonel Claude Herman Sawyers (Epsom); Major and Quartermaster George Palmer Cade (Pt. Chevalier); Flying-Officer Nicholas Joseph Matich, D.F.M. (Dargaville).

Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (0.8. E.). — Lieutenant-Colonel John Bell Kerr Taylor (Mt. Eden).

Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.).—"Warrant-Officer (Class I.) Martin Te Takahi Mcßae (Rotorua); Warrant-Officer Aubert William Arthur Crook (Auckland).

Military Cross. — Lieutenant-Col-onel John Burns Ferguson, D.S.O. (Remuera); Acting Lieutenant-Col-onel Peter Gilchrist (Te Arolia); Major James Spencer Rutherfurd (ML Albert); Major Andrew Edgar Sever (Papatoetoe); Major Stanley Frederick Catchpole (Mt. Eden); Major Peter Race Pike (Auckland); Major John Malfroy Staveley (Remuera); Major Maxwell Bassett Trower (Te Awamutu); Captain Frederick Henry Muller (Hamilton); Captain Peter Robertson (Kaitaia); Captain Astley Bernard Cottrell (Rotorua); Lieutenant Ivan Stanley Walters (Onehunga).

Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar— wing-Commander David Walter Sealy Clark (Otorohanga).

Distinguished Flying Cross.— Squadron-Leader Jesse Julius de Willimoff (Northcote); Flight-Lieu-tenant Ivan Reid Mitchell (Remuera); Flight-Lieutenant Alexander Gardyne Stanley George ./New Lynn); Flight-Lieutenant Cyril Patrick Towsey (Auckland); FlyingOfficer William Alexander Fraser (Kohimarama).

Air Force Cross. —Flying-Officer Thomas Alexander (Glen Eden).

Distinguished Conduct Medal.— Captain Harold Joseph Bramwell (Dargaville); Lieutenant Ronald Leslie Burk (Remuera); Second-Lieuten-ant John Brown (Waitakere); StaffSergeant Thomas Moir (Rotorua); Lance-Sergeant Haane Manahi (Rotorua); Private Tepene Heka (Waipapakauri). . Distinguished Service Medal.— Able-Seaman Leonard Bruce Hill (Mt. Albert).

Military Medal. —Captain Bruce Pounsett (Ellerslie); Warrant-Officer (Class II.) Robert Gordon Aro (Parnell); Sergeant Leonard Harold Lovegrove (Whangarei); LanceSergeant Lawrie Nelson- Parr is (Parnell); Corporal Rangi Waaka (Gate Pa, Tauranga); Lance-Bombardier William Frederick Davies (Epsom); Lance-Corporal Arthur George Scott (Ellerslie); Private Charles Titirahi Apihai (Te Teko). Distinguished Flying Medal. —Flying - Officer William Alexander Fraser, D.F.C. (Kohimarama); Fly-ing-Officer Colin Malcolm Wallace (Mt. Eden); Flying-Officer Robert Leonard Sommerville (Auckland).

British Empire Medal (MilitaryDivision). —Warrant-Officer Mervyn Toyne Bernard Harris (Ellerslie); Petty-Officer Edward Clark (Mt. Eden); Sergeant Ivan Ridley Summerg (Whangarei); Sergeant James Gordon Free (Edgecumbe).