COMRADE’S PRAISE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 252, 6 August 1941, Page 5

COMRADE’S PRAISE

HEROISM IN THE AIR.

“A FINE JOB OF WORK.”

FIRE BURNS HOUR AND A HALF

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 5. Further details of the operation in which Sergeant Ward won the Victoria Cross were given in a letter to Mr E. W. Lawton, of Vogletown, Wellington, from her son, Sergeant Laurence A. Lawton, who wad the observer in the aircraft concerned.

Describing the return from Muenster, Sergeant Lawton said: “An ME 110 got on our tail and pumped us full of cannon shells and bullets, and for a few seconds the inside of the cockpit where I was standing looked like a fifth of November fireworks display. The rear gunner shot the Messerdclimitt down, luckily, because we caught fire, and were a flaming torch for anyone to pick off. 'The starboard wing find the petrol in it were on fire for an hour and a half. We were all set to bail out over Holland; but we decided to have a cracS at crossing the North Sea, We eventually made it and landed at the biggest aerodrome we knew of.

"The second pilot, Jim Ward,” continued Sergeant Lawton, “did a fine job of work on the way across the North Sea. He climoed out on to the Wing with an engine cover and tried to put out the fire that way—a hell of a game, though it might not sound much to you. I had the dickens of a job geting him back inside. The whole of the inside of the aircraft was full of a heavy spray of petrol, and* it was just as well that the flames didn’t get any closer or we’d have blown up.” MR NASH’S TRIBUTE. (Sp.) WELLINGTON, August 5. “There are many things of which New Zealand may justifiably be proud; but there are none greater than the quiet courage of her sons,” said the Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. W. Nash), when paying a tribute to Sergeant Ward’s , gallantry. “Sergeant Ward’s action will send a thrill through the hearts of all who read the story. We are proud of him, an# congratulate him and his parents on the recognition of his work by the King, who has awarded to him the highest distinction that can be given to one of the British race.”