BATTLE HONOURS

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 34, 10 February 1920, Page 9

BATTLE HONOURS

DEEDS THAT WON THE

D.C.M,

NEW ZEALANDERS' LAST 'STUNT-

(FflOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

LONDON, sth December.

Details are now officially announced concerning the awards of the D.C.M. made. Jast March to certain members of the N.Z.E.F. for conspicuous gallantry, good work, courage, and devotion to duty. Most, cif.th* events happened near Le Quesnoy about the end of October or the beginning of November.

Following are the nam«s and particulars : . : ' :

During the attack east of Le Quesnoy, on 4th. November, 1918, whilst doing consistently good work throughout the day, 14556 Sergeant P. Baker, M.M., Wellington Regt., rushed two machinegun posts and captured the- garrisons. Later with two men he was instrumental in capturing a battery of 4.2's and 77 mm. guns, taking prisoners three of the crew. His exceptional coolness and mag-, tiificent dash were a ,very fine example to tha men in his platoon. 36944 Rifleman 0. Birch, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, attached SrdL.T.M. By., was one of a. light trench-mortar gun team in the attack on Le Quesnoy on the 4th November, 191 S. He wei>ii torw&rd arid located a inachine-guu whioh. was holding up the advance, enabling Uu> remainder of hjs gun team to blow oat the gunand thus allow the advance to pfocseci. He, witn ono other man, then made a daring' reconnaissance-&f the locality from which the machino-gun had been firing and captured and brought in an enemy officer and 27 ctlier ranks. Early in the' attack east of Lo Quesnoy on the 4th. November,. 1918, when his platoon officer became a casualty, isi>29o Sergeant !S. Board, Wellington Regiment, took over command of the, platoon and led them admirably. His platoon. inflicted many casualties on the enemy and captured about. 200 prisoners and ten machine-guns. Throughout the attack he displayed' fine courage and leadership. .

During the attack east of Le Quesnoy, on the 4th November, 1918, it became necessary at one stage for 13733 Sgt., H. O. D. Clark's (Wellington Regt.) platoon to be split into sections for mopging-up purposes. He then worked single-hand-ed, fearlessly entering cellaa'3 alone, and capturing many prisoners. Later, he noticed one of his, sections being held up by a machine-gun.' He immediately shot two of the crew, then rushed the post, capturing the gun and making prisoner the remainder of the crew.

224i9 ■ Sgt. J. P. Cunneen, Canterbury Regt., displayed a conspicuous gallantry and devotion to' duty in command of a platoon. When it was surrounded by the enemy he fought his way out to the flank with a few men, and pushed, forward behind the enemy and attacked him in the rear, capturing 30 prisoners. By this gallant and skilful action he saved a very difficult situation. He set a very fine example to all ranks. 10/500 R.S.M. D. Davis, Wellington Regt., showed conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Briastre on 11th12th October, 1918. On the 11th he took charge of a party of stretcher-bearers which went up to the iront line, and superintended the evacuation of all the wounded of one company under most difficult conditions and spasmodic shell and machine-gun fire. The next night he again assisted, in the evacuation of wounded from the front line, and personally ascertained that no wounded were left lying 'out. . Throughout, he showed great energy .and devotion to duty. . ■■.-..■' -».■ On the 23rd October. 1918, near Salesches, when 11016 Sgt. V. 0. Fergusson's (2nd Otago s ßegt.) company was held up, he led -the v support platoon round to a flank, and then getting into' a good position opened fire with his, 1 Lewis' gun. With "five men he crawled round the end of the enemy position and then charged. Sixteen prisoners and several' machineguns were captured by him, and about 16 of the enemy were left dead in tho post. This splendid action enabled his company to. go on. During the advance' near Neuville, on the 23rd October, 1918, 13901 Corporal W. Friend, Otago "Regiment, went forward 1 .with a patrol, and sent back valuable reports,, which enabled his company to move ahead. On reaching the point of assembly he personally reconnoitred the forward position, and afterwards took prisoner about 80 of the enemy. Later, ho shot an enemy officer, who -fired at him from behind a hedge. Throughout the operation his work at difficult points was of an exceptionally high'order. 24/157 Sergeant J. Grubb, 3rd N.Z. Rifle Brigade, did good work during the operations near Le Quesnoy on the 4th November, 1918. .During the attack he Ip.d his section! with great skill. After clearing two. machine-gun posts ho encountered a-, nest of threei and, assisted by a light trench mortar, removed this obstruction/and went forward to. , the objective, taking a large number of prisoners, and several machine guns. By this gallant action he took the objectives of the platoon on the rignt.;

On the night of the 2Sth-29th. October, 1918, near Ld Quesnoy, 24/451 '-Sergeant S. Hartley, 3rd N. 2. Rifle Brigade, volunteered to conduct a raid on an enemy position containing an n.c.o. and 16 men, with two heavy machine-guns, and accounted for four of them—the rest fled. The following night he again led a raiding- party against an enemy post, -with, such speed 'as to utterly rout them, overtaking and killing three of the enemy. On each occasion he got his party home without casualties.. ■

Near Le Quesnoy, on the 29th October. 1918. 45217 Corporal M. Kerrigan. 3rd N.Z. Bifle Brigade, was a member of a party consistinc of seven men, under a sergeant, ; which was to raid 1 an enemy strong point'.3oo yards from our line. The party crept out to ■within 30 yards of the enemy positions, and it was found that the posts occupied by the enemy were small and several. '. He immediately rushed one post alone, killing three of the enemy. He then rushed another post, killing two and capturing one of the garrison, whom he brought back to our lines. He afterwards went out. and brought in a wounded comrade. He behaved magnificently. East, of Le Qußsnoy, on the 4th November, 1918,, 47439 *Lance-Oorporal F. Lang, Wellington Regiment, led his section with conspicuous skill, and kept it well under control.' At one stage the line was in danger of being held up by an enemy machine-gun post in a hedge, when he rushed . forward alone andhacked, a way .through the obstructing hedge, which enabled his section to push through said envelop the post. He did fine work. .

During the advance across the l'Ecaillon Biver, Be&tidignies, on the 24th October, 1918, our line was held up after crossing the river by machine-gun fire from the front and from both flanks. 29833 Corporal W. C. S. Moorhouse, Otago Regiment, crawled forward with his gun team to a position whence he could enfilade the enemy, and by his fire covered the advance of the platoon on the right, which worked round and brought enfilade fire to bear on the trenches. On this the enemy surrendered, and three officers, seventy-five 0.8.'5, and six light and "one heavy machine-gun were captured He did excellent work.

On 4th November, 1918, near Pont de l'Alouette, 47458 Lance-Corporal F. J. Nettleingham (Wellington Regiment) platoon came under very heavy machinegun fire. He pushed on ahead, located the enemy gun, and, bringing enfilade fire to bear, forced the crew to abandon the gun. He then rushed alone into the trench, taking the garrison, fifteen in number, prisoners. His prompt and courageous action undoubtedly saved the company many casualties. He did fine work.

30650 _L. -Sergeant I. a. Short, Wellington Regiment, east of Le Quesnoy, on the 4th November, 1918, early in the attack, when m support, led a section and mopped up an enemy machine-gun that had been passed over, killing several of the team and taking the remainder prisoner. Later, with a few men, he outflanked and took prisoner a party of the enemy who were taking up a, firing position. After reaching the final objective he went forward to reconnoitre, and was severely wounded by a strong party of the enemy after he had killed one of them. He set a splendid example to those with him.

East of Le Quesnoy on 4th November, 1918, accompanied by his section commander, 651(52 Private W. G, Vial ', Wellington Regiment, rushed a machine-gun post which was holding up the advance of the section, killed two of the gun crew, made the remainder prisoners, a.nd captured the machine-gun. Immediately afterwards he led bis section in an attack on another machine-gim post, and captured the whole of the crew. He set a splendid" example to the men of his section.