GALLANTRY IN KOREA

Press, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 26393, 11 April 1951, Page 8

GALLANTRY IN KOREA

AWARD OF M.C. TO N.Z. OFFICER

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 10. Captain Arthur Roxburgh, of the 16th New Zealand Field Regiment, won his immediate award of the Military Cross on the night of February 14-15 when he was the regiment’s forward observation officer with A Company. Ist Battalion, Middlesex Regiment.

The citation for the award, released from Army Headquarters to-day, states that in the early nours of the morning a series of determined Chinese counterattacks was launched against the Ist Battalion's position. The main weight of the attack fell on A Company. These attacks continued for two hours and a half, during which time, from an exposed position, Captain Roxburgh directed artillery fire coolly and efficiently.

When not operating his set, he fired his rifle at the assaulting waves and undoubtedly of the 48 Chinese dead found next morning in and around the company positions he had accounted for several.

When, early in the engagement, all means of communication between the company and the battalion command post were out of action, he, with his wireless set, provided the essential link.

As the enemy withdrew at 6.30 a.m., Captain Roxburgh, by his quick engagement of targets, greatly increased the number of enemy casualties.