HONOURS CONFERRED.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 228, 9 July 1941, Page 5

HONOURS CONFERRED.

NEW ZEALANDERS IN AFRICA TWO OFFICERS, SEVEN MEN. (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service). CAIRO, July 7. The King has been graciously pleased to approve the undermentioned honours and awards, recommended by General Sir Archibald Wavell, •Commander-in-chief, in the Middle East, in a despatchon the operations m the Western Desert, Libya and Cyrcnaica from December, 1940. to February, 1941. Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire Major George Harold Whyte. Member of the Order of the British Empire—Lieutenant (Temp.-Captain) George Douglas Pollock. Modal of the Order of the British Empire for Meritorious Service—Corporal Albert Alexander Gilmore.

Military Cross—Captain James Alexander McAlpinc. Distinguished Conduct Medal—Corporal Lawrence Hamilton Browne. Military Medal—Driver Ronald Irving Alexander Burns, Trooper lan Hamilton McJmiis, Corporal Edmund lvennard -Madigan. The citations are as follow:

Major Whyte, as officer commanding the 4th Reserve, Motor Transport Company, rendered most valuable service during the campaign. His unit was always maintained at a high standard of efficiency and was continually employed in arduous duties and often dangerous ones. The good work of this unit was the subject of many messages of appreciation from formation commanders. The'main credit of this high standard is due to Major Whyte, whose personal efficiency was an example and inspiration to the whole unit.

Lieutenant Pollock from December. 1940, to February 15, 1941, has shown excellent powers of leadership and command, thereby encouraging his men in the performance of their arduousduties under adverse circumstances.

Corporal'Gilmore, N.Z.A.S.C., won his award for continuous good work and devotion to duty. While in the Western Desert lie was in charge ol three vehicles, attached for a period to the 7th Armoured Division. Hi; role was to carry wooden bridging tc negotiate tank traps during the ad vnnee. The officer commanding during his attachment reported that his worl was done "in an extremely business like manner and Hint his driving wa: of a particularly high standard. This non-commissioned officer maintained a .standard and did outstanding worl throughout the campaign. Captain of the 4th Re serve. Motor Transport Company, was subsequently killed in ’action in Greece During operations Gunner West, oi December 9, 19-1-0, led a section of the Motor Transport Company into the peiimoter under artillery and machine gun fire. He controlled and supervised debussing with great coolnesf and courage. He set a splendid ex ample- to tlio Indian troops lie wa< carrying. Throughout the opera Worn this officer rendered consistently valuable- service throughout the campaigr and was in every way worthy of a decoration.