HEROES HONOURED

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 237, 25 June 1918, Page 6

HEROES HONOURED

PRESENTATION OF WAR MEDALS

AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY, His Excellency tho Governor-General (Lord Liverpool) last night presented medals won by Jive New Zealand soldiers in the field. • The ceremony took, place in tho Town Hall, in the presence of members of the Ministry, officers of the Headquarters Stall', Territorial and cadet units, representatives of the Returned Soldiers' Association and the Veterans' Association, and a large gathering of the general public. Tho hall was completely lillcd, the pubiic occupying the gallery. Lord Liverpool was accompanied by the Commandant of the Forces (Major-Gen-eral Sir Alfred Robin), tho Director-Gen-eral of Medical Services (Surgeon-General R. F. S. Henderson), the Adjutant-Gen-eral (Colonel R. W. Tate), Colonel J. L. Sleeman (Director of Infantry Traiuing), and other officers. There wore also 011 the platform the Hon. Sir William Eraser (Minister of Public Works), the Hon. W. H. Herries (Minister of Railways), the Hon. A. M. Myers (Minister of Munitions), tho Hon. D. 11. Guthrie (Minister of Lands), the Hon. G. AV. .Russell (Minister of Internal Affairs), the Hon. J. A. Hanan (Minister of Education), the Mayor of Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P., C.M.G.), and the Hon. J. G. W. Aitken, M.L.C. (chairman of the Educa j tion Board).

Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, Commander Wellington Coast Defences, was in command of the military purade, with Major K. G. Sandle and Major A. A. Corrigan. The units represented included'tho Garrison Artillery (10 officers and 105 other ranks), D Battery (six officers and 97 other ranks), No. 4 Field Engineers (two officers and GS other ranks), sth Regiment (nine ufficers aJid 163 other ranksj, and Railway Engineers (five officers and 18S other ranks). All the Wellington Senior Cadet companies were strongly represented, the totnl muster of cadets being between 1450 and 1500.- The troops on parade numbered close upon 2300.

The ceremony was brief and impressive. When Lord Liverpool entered the hall Hie troops were called to attention, and the City Organist (Mr. Bernard Page) played ii verse of the National Anthem. The Governor-General then stated that lie lind been instructed by His Majesty Hie King to present certain medals and decorations won by New Zealand soldiers. The King desired the same procedure to bo obsorved as if lie were himself present. The Adjutant-General would read the formal notices of the awards from the London Gazette, and the soldiers or next-of-lrin would then come forward to receive tho. medals. Four of the medals had been won by soldiers who had lost their lives at Iho front. These awards were as follow:— Military Cross. Capt. G. E. Daniell, N.Z.I''.A. (deceased) —Mr. P. E. Daniell (father), Foxton. 2nd Lt. L. Smith, N.Z.F.A. (deceased)— Mrs. A. Smith (mother), 11 Palm Grove, Berhnmpore. Military Medal. Pte. P. A. Brill, 10/1753, N.Z.E.F. (deceased)— Mr. T. E. Brill (father), 78 Todman Street, Wellington. Pte. J. Fitzgerald, 11/1.546, N.Z.E.F. (deceased)— Mrs. N. Fitzgerald (mother), 30 Murphy Street, Wellington. The next-of-kin were present, and received the medals from the GovcruorGencral amid loud applause. Mr. T. E. Brill, who received the Military Medal won by his late eon, was a veteran wearing two war medals. - Lord Liverpool handed Serbian Gold Medal to Private A. East, 3/144, New Zealand Medical Corps. Privato Ea6t was accorded a rousing burst jof choers. The ceremony was completed within fifteen minutes, nnd' the profieeilinns closed with another verse of the NVtkmnl Anthem, played by the City Orjanist. Tho troops were .then marched out of the hall and dismissed.