INVESTTITURE HELD IN CHRISTCHURCH

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25878, 10 August 1949, Page 3

INVESTTITURE HELD IN CHRISTCHURCH

Military And Civil Awards

DECORATIONS PRESENTED BY GOVERNOR-GENERAL

One of the largest investitures ever held in New Zealand took place at the Durham street Art Gallery, Christchurch, yesterday, when 112 recipients were presented with civil and miliv?7? wards by the Governor-General (Sir Bernard Freyberg, v ,/• The ceremony was a colourful one, the Governor-Gen-erals and his aides’ uniforms standing out in one of the most brilliant displays of uniforms in Christchurch since the war.

To-day the second investiture, which will be even larger than yesterday’s, will be held. The previous largest number of awards presented at an investiture in New Zealand was 113, at Hamilton last year. The same number of awards was presented yesterday, one recipient getting two. Each recipient stepped up on the platform to receive his award after his name and the abbreviated citation had been read. After he had bowed,to his Excellency, the award was pinned on, and he shook hands with the Governor-General and Lady Freyberg. His Excellency was attended-by his persona) aides, Flight Lieutenant D. Roberts and Lieutenant Gordon Tait, R.N., and two honorary aides, Lieutenant-Commander S. W. Hicks and Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Bretherton.

Hie ceremony was not open to the public, only relatives and friends oi recipients being invited. All were presented to their Excellencies . after the awards had been made, when refreshments were served. 71 Only 12 of the awards were civil decorations. The highest of these was tire knighthood conferred on Mr Arthur Donnelly in recognition of his outstanding public service over a long period, particularly in connexion with the law. banking, and the administration of sport.” Mr Donnelly was the first to be invested, receiving

the accolade and the command from the Governor-General, “Arise, Sir Arthur.’’ There were six women recipients, including two. Staff Sergeant Phyllis Gerard and Sergeant Ann Pettigrew, who received a military decoration, the British Empire Medal (Military Division). Sergeant E. Batchelor, of Waimate, received prolonged applause when the citations accompanying his award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Bar were read by the military secretary, Squadron Leader B. R. Clapham.