MILITARY STARS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 237, 6 October 1945, Page 6

MILITARY STARS

SERVICE IN PACIFIC

CONDITIONS TO AWARDS

Parliamentary Reporter

WELLINGTON, this day

Certain of the conditions fixed to govern the issue of the 1939-45 Star for the Pacific area had now been altered, the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones announced to-day. He said that a number of operations in which units of the New Zealand Armed Forces. had been engaged in the Pacific had now been declared special qualifying operations for the 1939-4o Star. In addition, the final date of the qualifying period for the 1939-45 Star in the Pacific, and the Pacific Star had been extended from VJ day to September 2, 1945, the date of the signing by Japan of the main instrument of surrender.

"As the rules now stand, except when the 1939-45 Star is earned by taking part in a special qualifying operation 'as mentioned later, trie requisite minimum service in the operational area for Army personnel and R.N.Z.A.F. ground staff is six months, and in case of aircrew personnel, two .months for the 1939-45 Star, said Mr. Jones. After first earning the 1939-45 Star by six months (Army and R.N.Z.A.F. ground staff) and two months (air crew) service in the operational area, the personnel posted to, or attached to, units in the Pacific operational area become entitled to the Pacific Star by virtue of entry into operations, that is, by service for one day.

"Solomon Islands (including all the British Solomon Islands Protectorate) and Australian mandated territories where large numbers of the personnel of the New Zealand Forces have been engaged, are included in the operational area, and service in all these islands up to September 2, 1945, will count for the 1939-45 Star and Pacific Stars. Approval has been given to inclusion of the following operations, in which units of the Third New Zealand Division participated, as special qualifying operations, and service at any time within the dates specified qualifies in itself for the award of the 1939-45 Star:—Vella Lavella, for the Allied invasion from June 28, 1943 to pctober 13, 1943; Treasury Group, including Mono, for the Allied invasion from October 25, 1943 to November 26, 1943; the Green Islands, for the Allied invasion from February 15, 1944 to February 19, 1944. Also included under this heading is Guadalcanal, from August 7, 1942 to February 9, 1943. This latter clause concerns mainly the R.N.Z.A.F.

The Minister added that in view of the victorious conclusion of hostilities a provision has now been made for personnel who served in operational areas in the Pacific at any time during the final six months of the war against Japan— March 3, 1945, to September 2, 1945, both dates inclusive—to qualify for the Pacific Star by virtue of entry into the theatre of operations. This follows a similar provision for the award of the Atlantic, Italy, and France and Germany stars at the close of the war in Europe.

The rules for the award of the Defence Medal have also been amended by reducing the qualifying period of service in non-operational areas in the Pacific by members of the New Zealand Forces from 12 to six months.

The Minister said that the Service Departments were issuing the necessary amendments to orders to meet the altered qualifying conditions. Up to the present only a small quantity of Pacific Star ribbon has been received, but a further limited quantity is expected shortly. Some time would, therefore necessarily elapse before all entitled personnel could receive their full issue of ribbon.

In a statement he released to the Press recently the Prime Minister indicated that the New Zealand Government was dissatisfied with the present conditions of the award of the Pacific and 1939-45 Stars for service in the Pacific. "Discussions on these matters are still proceeding with the United Kingdom authorities," said Mr. Jones in conclusion, "and a statement will be made when position has been finally settled."