N.Z. RAILWAYMEN’S BRAVERY

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23718, 17 August 1942, Page 4

N.Z. RAILWAYMEN’S BRAVERY

TRAIN BOMBED IN DESERT valuable war stores SAVED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 18. A story of the bravery of four members of a New Zealand railway operating company in the Middle) East, who were largely instrumental / in saving valuable War Department stores is told in orders issued by Lieutenant-General Sir Bernard Freyberg, General Officer Commanding the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Middle East, ah extract from whicl\ has been brought to the notice of the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones). The order, which was issued on May 1, reads: —"ln February last a train proceeding to Mersa Matruh was bombed by enemy aircraft, causing tank waggons to catch on fire. The attention of the General Officer Commanding has been drawn particularly to the commendable conduct of the four undermentioned men. Their prompt action at the risk of being badly burned assisted in a valuable saving of War Department stores which otherwise would have been a total loss. They are Sapper A. W. Bennett, the enginedriver, whose next-of-kin is Mrs J. E. Bennett, of Invercargill, Sapper R. Graham, the fireman, whose next-of-kin is Mrs ,M. J. Graham, of Kamo, Lance-Sergeant M. D. Walsh, whose next-of-kin is Mrs M. B. Walsh, of Auckland Sapper R. S. Simons, whose next-of-kin is Mr F. Smith, of Cheviot. (The relationship in all cases is not stated.) An entry in the paybodks and personal records' of the abovenamed will be made accordingly,” Mr Jones said he had also received advice of the excellent work of the New Zealand railway units in the Middle East, both constructional and operating. The construction companies had carried the Western Deserf line to a point nor far short of Tobruk and the operating companies had been running the - line under very difficult conditions with harassing air attacks from the enemy. • - ’‘Many expressions of commendation have been made by General Headquarters, Middle East Forces, on the work of these New Zealand units,” added Mr Jones, “There is no doubt they have assisted very materially in the improvement of the supply position in the Western Desert.”