N.Z. AWARDS FOR GALLANTRY

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 3, 29 September 1942, Page 5

N.Z. AWARDS FOR GALLANTRY

Defence Of Egypt PETONE MAJOR GETS THE D.S.O.

(Ofllcial War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.)

CAIRO, September 26. Sixteen immediate' awards for gallantry for the New Zealanders’ part in the defence of Egypt were announced today, as follows; —

Distinguished Service Order: Major John Nesbit Anderson; wife, Mrs. C. r. Anderson, Auckland. Major Albert Ernest Laliibotirn; wife, Mrs. E. I. Lambourn, Petdiie. Military Cross: Major Andrew Edgar Beyer; father, Mr. R. Beyer, Yarraville,. Australia. Second-Lieutenant Robert Edgeworth Horrocks;. mother, Mrs. M. Horrocks, Parnell, Auckland. Lieutenant Leslie Edward McAneny; mother, Mrs.E. McAneny, Wellington. Major Hugh Murray Reid; wife, Mrs. W. J. Reid, Oamaru. Captain Ronald George Stevens; wife, Mrs. A. M. Steveiis, Island Bay Wellington. Lieutenant Reginald Douglas Trouhsou; Mr. V. Trounson, Maropiu, Dargaville (relationship not Distinguished Conduct Medal: Corporal Ronald Francis Garmonsway ; father, Mr. F. Garmonsway, Bell’s Junction, R.D., Taihiipe. ~, „ Military Medal: Sergeant Allan Ernest Branks; wife, Mrs. A. A. Branks, Invercargill. Lance-Corporal Milham John Clark; sistqr, Mrs. It. M. Daniel, M aikanae Beach. Lance-Sergeant StanleJ Conway; father, Mr. H. Conway, Christchurch. Sergeant Andrew John Duckworth; father, Mr. A. Duckworth, le Puke. Corporal Alan Riddell Hedley , father, Mr. A. G. Hedley, Wairoa. Driver Charles Frederick Robinson; wife, Mrs. I. W. Robinson, Riccarton, Christchurch. Private James Henry Savage F mother, Mrs. C. Hahn, Ahaiifa, West Coast.

\ Mines Laid Under Shellfire. Some of the citations are as follows:— “Under the direction of Major Anderson 4000 mines were rapidly laid at Miiiqar Qaim on Juno 2<—a vitally protective minefield—before the enemy reached the New Zealanders’ forward defence lines. In spite of the intensity of enemy shelling of his parties and the development of the attack, the mines were rapidly laid. Where the shelling was heaviest, Anderson encouraged his men and he himself fused the mines. One truckload wtL exploded by enemy fire, causing many Ca l‘When mines had to be laid near the burning ammunition truck, Anderson, showing complete disregard for his own safety, carried mines to the area. Just as this work had been completed he moved a wounded man to safety and, stW uffiler heavy and accurate shellfire, contiriued to dll Skflful handling of an ar f llle 'y battery won for Major Lambouin .his DS O He was ordered to take his battery outside the divisional 'defensive area to harass the enemy s flank. He quickly deployed the battery and brought effective fire on lhe enemy. A number of German tanks engaged the battery and at tempted an outflanking movement. Lam bourn skilfully leap-frogged a troop back to a rear position, from which the forward troop was covered by > s fire a ‘>d was withdrawn. Lamoourn s. clove manoeuvring extricated tbe whole bat tcry without loss. His battery put out of action three German tanks and damaged three others. . )( “Throughout the campaign, says the citation, “LamboUrn has shown resource and initiative in pushing Lis observation post well forward beyond the. iMaritry defences, thus' bringing effective fire on areas normally in dead ground. Hls . a »* gressive conduct throughout the campaign has been an inspiration to those under him." Safety Disregarded.

Lieutenant McAneny, under heavy mortar and small arms fire, led as machinegun platoon to exposed Positions on a’ ridge overlooking the enemy during the attack against El Mireir on July a. New Zealand infantry were engagfed by a heavy mortar which was paifly. con cealed from view. With absolute disregard of his own safety, McAneny stood up and laid each gun in turnon the target. He continued to. direct the fire from a standing position till wounded. The mortar was silenced. Lieutenant Stevens engaged enemy funks with a two-pounder gun during the withdrawal from El Mireir on Jiny 22 Though previously wounded in a minefield and with his sight impaired as a result of broken spectacles, he, with the cb-operation of two other guns.under his command, stopped an advance of eight to ten tanks. Making, excellent use of the ground, he sited his portion, of the defilade to destroy the. tank which was leadin'- the others. His coolness in the face of heavy odds inspired, the men under him. The co-operation of all three guns stopped the advance- of the ell LancteCorporal Clark was one of the stretcher-bearers attached to the tending company in an attack made against a strongly-fortified position on July 3. On a forward slope 500 yards from the enemy forward defence lines, and while under intense machinegun, anti-tank a ' ld mortar fire, he conscientiously attended the men as they were wounded.. He carried on the work after he had been wounded himself* Corporal Hedley performed, three separate acts of gallantry .°n three separate days. On the night of June 26 he re assembled and cleared vehicles when the ai-ea to Which he was driving was heilyly bombed. During a further raid oil the battalion post, he was in charge of: six lorries, and collected and cleared wounded from the area. When, because of the intensity of enemy fire on Ruweisat ludge on July 22> all transport was ordered to be withdrawn, Hedley voluntarily remained with his lorry transporting casualties to the regimental aid post. Again, on July 3, at El Mireir, ; in the face> of heavy anti-tank and mortar fire, Hedley was continually out among his men, assuring their welfare. V.C.’s Companion.

From the action which won for Sergeant Keith Elliott, New Zortland s fifth V.C. in this war, comes another decoration to a member of his platoon Corporal 11. F. Garmonsway, Wellington Battalion, who has been awarded the D.C.M. Garmonsway was the man to whom tribute was paid by the new V.U. when he modesty disclaimed his own part in the action,' saying,- “-The corporal was the chap who should have got this. The stbry of his exploit is aB thrilling as that of Elliott’s, which won the Empire’s highest military award. Ilis platoon evaded capture by enemy tanks at Ruwelsat Ridge on July 15 and Garmonsway led n section of four men in an attack on a machinegun post over 4W, yards in the face of .intense fire. He anti his section captured three machineguns, one anti-tank rifle, one German and two Italian officers, one German sergeant, about 60 other ranks, without casualty to his section. For the remainder of that day Garmonsway was commanding the remaining 16 men of his platoon. He held the position on Ruwelsat Ridge till relieved at night. He served in Greece and Crete and in the last Libyan campaign.