BRAVERY AWARDS

EXPEDITIONARY FORCE MIDDLE EAST FIGHTING DECORATIONS AND MEDALS AUCKLANDERS INCLUDED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Tuesday Advice lias been received that His Majesty the King has approved the following immediate awards to personnel of the Second New Zealand. Expeditionary Force serving in the Middle East: — Bar to the D.S.O, —Brigadier Cyril Ettrick Weir, who was mentioned in despatches in January, 1942, and was awarded the D.S.O, in April, 1942 — Mrs. B. C. Weir, Auckland (wife). Distinguished Service Order.—Lieu-tenant-Colonel lan Lambert Bonifant, Methven; Lieutenant-Colonel Ralf Walden Harding—Mrs. E. M. Harding, Aoroa, Dargaville (wife). Bar to Military Cross.—Major Hugh Murray lieid; awarded the Military Cross in November, 1941, and mentioned in despatches—Oamaru. Captain Alexander Mathieson Rutherford; awarded the Military Cross in November, 1942—Wellington.

Military Cross. —Major John Levy Macduff; mentioned in despatches in January, 1942—Wellington. Major Clarence Farrington Skinner, M.P.; previously mentioned in despatches— Nelson. Captain Richard Brian Abbott —Mrs. M. H. Abbott, Auckland (wife). Captain Frederick Herbert Poolman —• Mrs. C. E. Poolman, Hamilton (mother). Lieutenant John Thomas Hawdon Halkett —Timaru. Lieutenant Robert Milton Page—Mrs. Z. G. Page, Auckland (wife). Lieutenant Peter Robertson —Mrs. T. A, Robertson, Auckland (mother). Lieutenant Maxwell Bassett Trower —Mrs. D. M. B. Trower, Auckland (mother). SecondLieutenant Alfred Carswell Marett— Dunedfn.

Distinguished Conduct Medal.—Sergeant (now Second-Lieutenant) Harold Joseph Bramwell —Plimmerton. Sergeant John Brown—Green Island. Sergeant Hedley Lewis Goeffic —Taradale. Sergeant John Augustus Laing—Mr. H. W. Laing, Kumeu. Sergeant John Kingston Lawrence—Christchurch. Sergeant William Keith Marshall — Timaru. Lance - Sergeant Frances Michael Joseph Marshall—Mrs. M. Marshall, Onehunga (mother). Corporal Thomas McManus—Ngataki. Corporal Ngakete Tukaki—Mr. T. Tukaki, Opotiki. Sapper Frank Fenton—Mrs. J. Fenton, Auckland (mother). Driver Eric Albert Henderson—lnvercargill. Gunner Ormonde Worsdale—Wellington.

Military Medal. Wai*rant - Officer Robert Ernest Buick —Oamaru. Sergeant Edward Isaac Barnett—Mrs. A. Barnett, Auckland (wife). Sergeant Alfred John Bowie—Lovells Flat. Sergeant John Alexander Herd—Mrs. T. Herd, Auckland (wife). Sergeant Robert Alfred Jennings—Mrs. D. C. Jennings, Auckland (wife). Sergeant Harry Mackey—Waiomatatini. Sergeant William Alan Marshall—Mr. W. A. Marshall, Manunui (father). Sergeant Claude Rex Pulford —New Plymouth. Sergeant Robert Benedict Smith —Mrs. A, M. Smith, Auckland (mother). Sergeant Cecil Brice Taggart—Napier. Sergeant Norman Harington Norton Thompson—Mr. F. N. Thompson, Taurauga (father). LanceSergeant William John Cattanach — Upper Hutt. Lance-Sergeant Francis William Ellery—Mrs. E. M. Ellery, Hamilton (wife). _ Lance - Sergeant Thomas James Higginson—Waikanae. Lanee-Sergeant Charles Duncan Mackay Klaus—Mrs. A. C. Klaus, Waitoa (mother). Corporal Charles Ogston Barron —Timaru. Corporal Frank Jefrey Blackett—Silverstream. Corporal Herbert John de Stigter—Mrs. P. de Stigter, Onerahi (wife). Corporal Ewen Roy Mclnnes—Mrs. •A. Mclnnes, Devonport (wife). Corporal John Michael Murphy—Napier. Lance-Cor-poral Bernard Robert McCarthy—Alexandra. Lance-Corporal Harold John Monaghan—Eketahuna. Lance - Bombardier Allister- Grigor Peterson —Dunedin. Lance-Corporal James Patrick Scanlan —Dunedin. Private John Alexander Black—address not stated. Private Leonard Dolheguy—Ashburton. Private Josej)h Forsyth—-Christchureh. Private Robert Henry Sizeland Harper —Christchureh. Private Basil Vallintme Kitson —Mrs. A. B. Kitson, Whangarei (mother). Private John Reglan MacLean —Hastings. Sapper Lloyd Taylor— Australia. Private Fred Tenamu —Mr. W. Tenamu, Kaikohe (father). Private Fred Rigby Wrigley—Wellington. BRIGADIER WEIR'S SERVICE LABOUR, M.P.'S MILITARY CROSS Awarded a bar to his D.5.0., Brigadier C. E. Weir is particularly wellknown in Auckland, having been stationed in the area for about seven years before his departure overseas in command of an artillery regiment. He is aged 38 and is one of the youngest officers of his rank in the division. His present post is Officer Commanding Now Zealand Artillery, Second N.Z.E.F. Brigadier Woir was awarded the D.S.O. in March of this year, when he had the rank of colonel, and had previously been mentioned in despatches. In 1925 he was chosen to undergo a special course of instruction at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, returning in 1927 to take up a commission with the Royal New Zealand Artillery. Major C. F. Skinner, M.P., who has been awarded the Military Cross, was born in 1900, and was educated at the Parnell School and the Soddon Memorial Technical College. Originally a carpenter, he later took up farming. Ho was a supporter of the Labour Party for many years and held official positions the party. In 1938 he was returned to Parliament as Labour member for Motueka. Captain R. B. Abbott, M.C., is the youngest son of Mr. R. Atkinson Abbott, of Remuera. He was educated at King's College, and is 23 years of age. Before enlisting in 1940 he was a member of the staff of the New Zealand Insurance Company, Limited. He represented College Rifles at Rugby football and played tennis for the Remuera Club. SALE OF HOTEL \ £47,000 CHRISTCHURCH DEAL One of the biggest property deals put through in Christchureh for some time was completed when Warner's Hotel, one of the leading houses in Christchurch, was sold for £47,000. The purchaser was the Christchureh Press Company, Limited, Which took over the freehold from Warner's, Limited. The purchase price did not include the Liberty and the terms are subject to the existing lease, which is held v by Licensed Freehold®, Limited.