AWARDS TO NAVAL OFFICERS

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24603, 27 June 1945, Page 5

AWARDS TO NAVAL OFFICERS

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE CROSS

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, June 28. Advice has been received from the Admiralty that the King has approved the award of the Distinguished Service Cross to Temporary SubLieutenant (A) Roger Joseph Foxley, R.N.Z.N-V.R., for gallantry in air attacks in the eastern theatre of war, and the award of mention in dispatches to Temporary Lieutenant Edward Henry Godfrey Lassen, D.S.C., R.N.Z.N.V.R., for gallant services m the Mediterranean in action on February 7, 1945, and to Temporary Lieutenant Robin Montrose Messanger, R.N.Z.N.V.R., for good services in minesweeping in European waters. Sub-Lieutenant Foxley, who was born in Gisborne in 1921, and was a sheepfarmer in civil life, joined the New Zealand Navy in August, 1941. He was promoted to commissioned rank in August. 1942. His father' is Mr P. Foxley. of the Army School. Trentham. . . _ Lieutenant Lassen was born at Oxford. North Canterbury, in 1916, and before joining the Royal New Zealand Navy in August, 1941. was engaged in fishing. He was promoted temporary sub-lieutenant in September. 1942, and temporary lieutenant in the same month of 1943. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in December. 1943, for good service with the coastal forces in Colombo. His father is Mr E. Lassen. of Oxford. North Canterbury. The Admiralty has advised that the following additional award has been approved by the King on the occasion of the celebration of His Majesty’s birthday: Distinguished Service Cross to Temporary Acting Lieuten-ant-Commander Harry Mannix Nees, R.N.ZN.V.R. Lieutenant-Commander Nees joined the R.N.Z.N.V.R. as a probationary. temporary sub-lieutenant in October. 1940, under Scheme A. After undergoing training in the Royal Navy he was promoted to temporary lieutenant in January. 1941, and to temporary acting lieutenant-commander ‘in September. 1943. Before joining the naval service he was a factory manager. He has twice been mentioned in dispatches His wife lives in the United Kingdom. His father is Mr B. H. Nees, Dunedin.