GALLANTRY IN ACTION

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23716, 14 August 1942, Page 4

GALLANTRY IN ACTION

Three N.Z. Officers Win Awards

CHRISTCHURCH MEN INCLUDED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON. August 13. Advice has been received from the War Office, London, that the King approved the following immediate awards to officers of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force serving in the Middle East:— Distinguished Service Order Major H..M. McElroy. Bar to Military Cross Captain E. A. MePhail. Military Cross Lieutenant G. S. Cooper. Major McElroy received his first appointment to a commission in the North Auckland Regiment in 1932, and in February 1940, was posted to the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the temporary rank of captain. He

went overseas with the 2nd Echelon and attained field rank this year. He is an accountant -in civil life, and lived at Dargaville. Captain MePhail passed out from the Army School of Instruction in November, 1939, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, in a South Island battalion, and went overseas with the 2nd Echelon. He was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry and distinguished services in the Greek campaign. He was promoted to his present rank in December last. He was formerly on the Christchurch staff of the Bank of New Zealand. His father is Mr E. MePhail, of Rangiora. Lieutenant Cooper was commissioned in 1941 and left New Zealand with the 4th Reinforcements. He was promoted lieutenant in July last year. His home is in Christchurch, and he is an accountant in civil life. His next-of-kin -is his wife, Mrs D. F. Cooper, of Timaru.

Lieutenant Cooper is a well-known Christchurch footballer and swimmer. He clayed senior grade Rugby for the Linwood club and represented Canterbury. He was a prominent member of the Elmwood Swimming Club. Lieutenant Cooper attended Christ's College from 1925 to 1929, and established an excellent sports record there. He was a'senior swimming champion and played in the first fifteen. Recently he was reported wounded.