AWARD OF GEORGE MEDAL

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24624, 21 July 1945, Page 6

AWARD OF GEORGE MEDAL

—— ♦ WESTPORT MAN’S HEROISM (From Our Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, July 20. How Corporal Frederick George Herring, of Westport, risked almost certain death to save the lives of other members of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. in Italy, is told in the citation to the George Medal, which has been awarded to him. Although he escaped death, he suffered injuries which made necessary the amputation of his right hand and right leg when he picked up a grenade when it was about to explode. Corporal Herring is the first member of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. to win the George Medal, the award of which is confined to acts of great bravery for which purely military honours are not normally granted. The citation is as follows: On the night of January 10, 1945, in Casa Casetta, Corporal Herring was preparing to send 36 grenades to outposts when one fell to the floor. The impact caused the safety pin to fall out, releasing the handle and striker. Other personnel were in the same room, and without hesitation he picked up the grenade and attempted to get it through a doorway. The grenade exploded just as he opened the door, and Corporal Herring suffered severe injuries, necessitating the amputation of his right hand and right leg. By his self-sacrifice, courage, and gallantry, he saved his comrades from serious injury if not death.”