NEW ZEALANDER WINS V.C.

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23752, 25 September 1942, Page 6

NEW ZEALANDER WINS V.C.

RUWEISAT BATTLE ENEMY POSTS STORMED UNDER HEAVY FIRE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 24. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) announced to-day that Sergeant Keith Elliott, whose father is Mr F. C. Elliott, Marima rural delivery, Mangamaire, Pahiatua, has been awarded the Victoria Cross. The citation says:— “At Ruweisat, at dawn on July 15, the battalion to which Sergeant Elliott belonged was attacked on three flanks by tanks. Under heavy tank, machinegun, and shell fire, Sergeant Elliott led the platoon he was commanding to the cover of a ridge 300 yards away, during which he received a chest wound. Here he reformed his men and led them to a dominating ridge a further 500 yards away, where they came under heavy enemy machine-gun and mortar fire. “He located enemy machine-gun posts on his front and right flank, and, while one section attacked on the right flank, Sergeant Elliott led seven men in a bayonet charge across 500 yards of open ground in the face of heavy fire, and captured four enemy machinegun posts and an anti-tank gun, killing a number of the enemy and taking 50 prisoners. “His section then came under fire from a machine-gun post on his left flank. He immediately charged this post single-handed and succeeded in capturing it, killing several of the enemy and taking 15 prisoners. “During these two assaults he suffered three more wounds in the back and legs. Although badly wounded in four places, he refused to leave his men until he had reformed them, handed over his prisoners—who now numbered 130—and arranged for his men to rejoin their battalion. “Owing to Sergeant Elliott’s quick grasp of the situation and his great personal courage and leadership, 19 men, who were the only survivors of B Company of his battalion, captured or destroyed five machine-guns and one anti-tank gun, killed a great number of the enemy, and captured 130 prisoners. “Sergeant Elliott suffered only one casualty among his men, and brought him back to the nearest advanced dressing station.” Overseas Service Sergeant Elliott went overseas with the 2nd Echelon as a private in a Wellington battalion, and served in Greece and Crete. He was reported slightly wounded in the latter campaign in 1941, but he was able to remain with his unit during the subsequent desert campaign. He was in December last posted missing, believed prisoner of war, , but he was released with a large number of other prisoners when our troops captured Bardia in January. He was wounded again on July 15, and was admitted to hospital, being discharged 11 days later. Sergeant Elliott was promoted lancecorporal in September, 1941, and sergeant a month later. He is 26 years of age, and in civil life was engaged in farming at Mangamaire. A report from Pahiatua states that Mrs Elliott, mother of Sergeant Elliott, and her two daughters were at home on their farm at Marima when news was received of the award. They were greatly thrilled at the news, and Mrs Elliott said it would be a surprise to Keith, as he did not expect any recognition for what he had done. Before joining up he was looking after his mother's farm. Neighbours say that he was a quiet, hard-forking boy and was always ready to give a helping hand to his neighbours. He was very keen on football, and played for Marima, always being in the thickest part of the tussle. - . He enlisted to go with the Ist Echelon, but because of his farming activities he was not called upon to serve until the men of the 2nd Echelon entered camp.