FOR VALOUR

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 60, 8 September 1945, Page 9

FOR VALOUR

TWO MORE AUSTRALIAN

V.C.'S

CANBERRA, Sept. 7,

Two more Victoria Crosses have been awarded to members of the Australian Military Forces. The V.C. has been awarded posthumously to Lieutenant Albert Chowne, M.M., of Sydney, for most conspicuous bravery, brilliant leadership, and great devotion to duty after the capture of Daguo. The V.C. was awarded to Private Edward Kenna, of Hamilton, Victoria, for outstanding valour of the highest order at Wewak. The awards were announced by the Governor-General, ,the Duke of Gloucester, after being approved by the King. They are the sixteenth and seventeeth Australians respectively, and the fifteenth and sixteenth members of the Australian Forces respectively to be awarded the V.C. in World War 11.

Chownes's citation stated that, without awaiting orders, Chowne immediately rushed the enemy's position. Running up a steep, narrow track, he hurled grenades which knocked out two enemy light machine-guns. Then, calling on his men to follow him and firing his sub-machine-gun from the hip, he chaTged the enemy's defensive position. He sustained two serious wounds in the chest.

Kenna's citation said that at Wewak Kenna endeavoured to put his Brengun into a position where he could engage an enemy bunker, but he was unable to do so because of the nature of the ground. On his own initiative, Kenna stood up in full view of the enemy, less than fifty yards away, and engaged the bunker, firing his Brengun from the hip. The enemy machinegun returned Kenna's fire, and with such accuracy that bullets passed between his arms and his body. Undeterred, he remained completely exposed and continued to fire at the enemy until his magazine was exhausted. As in his present position he was unable to shoot with sufficient accuracy with his Bren-gun, he discarded it. Although still a target for intense machine-gun fire, he, with amazing coolness, took deliberate aim with his rifle and killed the gunner with the first round. A second automatic opened fire on Kenna, who, still standing, again t.ook deliberate aim and killed the gunner with his next round.

Mr. Billsborow is a bread-carter, and he lives in Adelaide. While delivering bread in a storm in Molesworth. Street, North Adelaide, his horse was frightened by broken branches of trees and bolted. Mr. Billsborow ran after the horse and was losing ground, when suddenly the wind caught him and half lifting him, shot him past the bolting horse and vehicle. He was buffeted into the gutter, but got up in time to stop the bolting horse as it was passing him.