B.E.M. TO AIRMAN

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 15, 19 January 1944, Page 4

B.E.M. TO AIRMAN

MOUNTAINEERING FEAT

His Excellency the GovernorGenaral has announced that the King has been graciously pleased to award the British Empire Medal to. Corporal Tom Nelson Newth, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Christchurch. The citation details the conspicuous part Corporal Newth played in the search for two airmen from the Royal New Zealand Air Force station, Wigram, who were lost during a mountain climbing expedition on the slopes of Mount Malte Brun in the Southern Alps on March 20, 1943. Particular reference is made to his courageous feat in carrying out a solo .traverse of a dangerously precipitous area. Corporal Newth, who is a very experienced climber, was fully cognisant of the risks involved in solo climbing, and knew that if a slip Occurred there would have been small chance of saving himself on bad ground such as he encountered on this climb. In spite of the fact that he knew the risks he was taking he continued to ascend, traverse, and descend a precipitous rock face by himself. The strain imposed was such as to elicit remarks that "he was done to a frazzle" on rejoining his companion. To continue for five hours by oneself under such conditions, knowing the risks he ran, was an outstanding performance, and an indication of the courage and fortitude displayed by Corporal Newth. Born at Christchurch in 1914, Corporal Newth received his secondary, education at the Christchurch Technical College. After leaving school he became apprenticed as a carpenter and joiner. Enlisting in the Royal New Zealand Air Force towards the end of 1940 he commenced training in the following year as a flight rigger. Promoted to the rank of corporal, he was accepted last December as a flight engineer in air crew. His wife, Mrs. Esther Newth, resides in Christchurch.