FOR VALOUR.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 170, 18 July 1919, Page 6

FOR VALOUR.

LIEUTENANT R. S. JUDSON, V.C., D.CJVL, M.M. CIVIC RECEPTION. TRIBUTE FROM CITIZENS. " The proud distinction of winning three decorations within a month is an honour . as rare as it is noteworthy. SecondLieut. Reginald Stanley Judson, V.C., D.C.M., M.M., wjho returned to Auckland ' by the Marama yesterday, was awarded ' the proudest distinction that can be awarded a man on the battlefield, the Victoria Cross, and the D.C.M. and M.M. in the brief period of four weeks on the . war-scarred battlefields of France. The s citizens of Auckland are second to none , in their recognition of bravery, and at < noon to-day tendered a civic reception to j Lieut. Judson to pay their tribute to his . bravery, to welcome him back, and to . extend to him their very best wishes for j his future. The concert chamber at the , Town Hall was crowded when Lieut, i Judson arrived, escorted by the DeputyMayor (Mr. A. J. Entrican), Colonel Potter, 0.C.D.. members of the City j Council, and of the Defence Staff, and , those present rose and cheered him to the , echo as the party mounted the platform, , on which Were assembled his wife and daughter, members of Parliament, pub- ' lie citizens, representatives of the Boiler- ' makers' Union, the engineering and iron . trades, and members of the Waitemata '. County Council, who had adjourned their meeting to be present in recognition of ; the fact that Lieut. Judson formerly re- ' sided in the Waitemata county. Mr. Entrican said they were met to do honour to an Auckland boy, and while doing so be was sure they would join with him in saying that 'they warmly welcomed all the men who returned by the Marama yesterday. (Applause.*) One of the outstanding characteristics of the men who had won distinctions such as that held by their guest was their depreciation of'their own actions, and there were hundreds of deeds of valour performed during the war of what the world knew nothing, and probably never would. Ralph Connor had said tho common soldier was the wonder of the war, and this had been shown again and again. On the eve of the peace celebrations they desired to signalise their appreciation of acts such as that performed by Lieutenant Judson. (Applause.) In New Zealand there were now eleven V.C.'s, aud to-day they had the pleasure of meeting the third in Auckland. Eirst there was Lieutenant Bassett, later there was Private Crichton, and now Lieutenant Judson. (Applause and cheers.) No one stood so high in the estimation of the citizens as a brave man. and from tho records they had there could bo no doubt about the popularity in Auckland of Lieutenant Judson. (Applause.) The speaker then wont on to say that he had been three I times decorated within a month, and to give details of the incidents as already published in the "Star." On behalf of j I the citizens of Auckland, be concluded, i 'ho wished to extend to Lieutenant Jud- j ! son tho warmest of welcomes, their' ' sincerest congratulations, and their J very best wishes for the future of him- 1 self and his wife and family. (Applause j and cheers.) Mr. Cliff, president of the Boilermakers' Union, to which trade Lieut, j Judson was apprenticed in his younger j days, speaking on behalf of the trade ' and allied trades, said he had never had n boy more willing to learn. Unassum- j ing in character, he had since shown that I he had the heart of a lion on tho field | of battle. On behalf of all connected with the trade he had much pleasure in welcoming and greeting Lieut. Judson. Mr. Barter, secretary of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, said they were present to welcome Lieut. Judson back. He was one of the men who had fought that ships might come freely to I . this country. NOT A PERSONAL MATTER. Lieut. Judson. who was received with cheers, made a neat speech in reply. He J ' thanked those present for the welcome accorded him. His share in the. war, i • he said, had boon a small one compared I ' with that of many who had gone. The decorations that had been awarded him were not personal decorations; they bolonged to his regiment—the Auckland Infantry Regiment—for without the help I of all arms in tho New Zealand Division he could not hive gained thorn. It wias the rank and file, or, in other words, the Diggers, to whom the success of the Now Zealand Division was due. (Applause.) ■ He had been with them under all condi--1 tions. and no words of his could express how splendid they wore. The more their ■ casualties, the greater their hardships, i the more determined they became, and ! the bettor they fought. He would like. i too, to express his appreciation of tho l gifts that had heon sent to the front from . tho citizens of Auckland. Those gifts i always appeared to be tho very thing i that was required, and somehow they , brought with them a touch of home. . Nothing he could say would express fully . the gratitude of the men to the Patriotic , League. (Applause.) s Mr. Entrican then congratulated Mrs. , Judson on the fact that her husband had j returned safely and called for cheers for | Lieut. Judson.'his wife and family. Those ' weru given with v will, following which tho assembly .-ang the National Anthem. This concluded the. proceedings, and all present gathered round the guest to shake him by the hand and tender him ' their personal congratulations and good % wishes. t EARLY DAYS. It is interesting to note thai s Lieut. Judson is a descendant of some d of the early settlers of Port 'Albert, or as it was known then, Albertland, II was in ISG2 that Rev. Samuel Edgai arrived here as minister on the shi[ -Matilda Wattcnbach. which container n many Albertland settlers. The Rev c Edgar was followed two years later bj I his two nephews, Mr. Frederick Jndeoi '_ anil Mr. Edgar Judson, with his littk - son Stanley Judson, the hero of to-day": ', reception. A few years later Mr. Edgai Judson left the colony, but his sot Stanley remained with his uncle Mr Frederick Judson. Later the son mar ' ried Miss Ethel Grice, whose father al _ present resides in tiie .Matingatoroto (lis trict. The uncle subsequently acquires some property in the Waitaken ranges, portion of which was placed ii charge of the present holder of tin coveted Victoria Cross. He remainec there with his wife till the outbreak o war, and volunteering in 1915, left wit! n the Auckland infantry as a private. Fron !0 Egypt he went with the second battalioi le of the Auckland Regiment to France te and was among the first of tho New Zea iy landers who advanced on tho Somme it io l!)lf». Receiving a wound from t m machine gun bullet he was ill hospita )g in England and France for some consider w able time. When ho regained hi is strength he was sent back to Franco a >V his own request, and was promoted t' ie sergeant, receiving his commission whei :d he won the V.C.. details of which hay, been previously published. _