THE SPECIAL 1914-15 STAR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 90, 10 January 1919, Page 6

THE SPECIAL 1914-15 STAR

GALLIPOLI, FLANDEBS, AFRICA, AND KUT. In the House of Commons recently Mr. Macpherson, Deputy-Secretary for War, announced the decision to which the War Cabinet, with the approval of, the King, had come in tho matter of the special Star to be awarded for the Gallipoli operations. In reply to Colonel Leslie Wilson, the right hon. gentleman said:—- ' • ■ "An agreement has been reached, with tho approval of the War Cabinet and the King, which I am assured is satisfactory to those principally concerned, regarding tho subject of the Gallipoli .decoration. The 1914 Star will bo reserved for its special purposes. A Star' on tho same model and with the same riband, but bearing distinctive marks as to date—l9l4-15—will .be given to all officers and other ranks of tho Eo'yal Navy and Royal Marines who, prior to December 31, 1915, served in a ship of war at sea, and all officers and other ranks of military and. air forces who served in any theatre of war prior to,the same date. . In every case the officer or man must havo served on duty and with proper authority, and no officer or man will receive the 1914-15 Stiv!) in addition to tho 1914 Star. Thus, in ' tho same way that those who first bore the brunt of the attack in France and Flanders received \a special mark of recognition by the award of the 1914 Star, so those fiom our dominions and colonies, as well as British and Irish troops who first responded to tho call of duty and served in a theatre of war will receive recognition. (Cheers. The House will recollect that it had been originally pro : posed and sanctioned'that the Governments of Australia and New Zealand should present the troops with a special medal for the operations on the Peninsula. They havo now agreed to .the new proposal, so that all troops, British and Indian, and those from the dominions who shared the same dangers and hardships, shall receive the same reward. (Cheers.) The date chosen— December 31. 1013—formed , a_ definite break in tho operations, and nil concerned have accepted it on the understanding that it is final. It will interest the House, to know that there will be included, in addition to all those who fought on the Gallipoli Peninsula, the Canadian troops Vho fought at tho second Battle of Yprcs, the Battle of Fcstubert, and subsequent operations of the year in France and Flanders; all those who fought at the Battle of Loos; the troops engaged in the defence of Egypt; tlie troops who conquered German South-West Africa under General Botha, as well as all who were engaged in other parts of the African Continent; the Australian Forces which captured the Bismarck Archipelago; and those who fought so' gallantly under General Townshond at Knt. (Cheers.)" Earl Stanhonc (Parliamentary Secretary to J.he War Office made a similar announcement, in the House of Lords.

There has been talk in ilnglnml of using peat to help the winter fuel supDly. Tf peat should come into 'general i.so it may solve another difficulty, that of the shortage of matches. Sir Herbert jlnswcll has told how he and a friend, being tint in a' storm in the Highlands, took refuge in a ■•oitiige, nnd .inked Hie goodwife to make them some cakes for lunch. There seemed nothing .in the hcavlh but a littfe ''bite peat ash. but, blowing it on one - de, she re.eiiled glowing embers. \skeil l.y Sir Herbert Maxwell's friend how long her fire had been alight, the gooihvife astonished him by answering, "It's just seven and twenty year come Jlartinnms since Kol> nn' nie came to this boose, an' Hie lire's never been- pot syn-syne,"