FURTHER AWARDS

Evening Star, Issue 24278, 20 August 1942, Page 6

FURTHER AWARDS

NEW ZEALANDERS' GALLANTRY

FIVE OFFICERS AND N.C.O.'S (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent.) CAIRO, Aug. 18. Five more New Zealanders are included in a further list of immediate awards for bravery in the battle for Egypt which was announced by Middle East Headquarters to-day. They are: ■ Distinguished Service Order.—Lieu-tenant-colonel J. N. Peart, Auckland. Military Cross. —Lieutenant K. J. Frazer, Wellington. Distinguished Conduct Medal.—Corporal A. J. Voss, Tauranga. Military Medal.—Regimental Ser-geant-major A. B. H. Naughton, Whangarei; and Sergeant W. J. Kennedy, Tauranga. AN ABLE LEADER. Lieutenant-colonel Peart, who was formerly head master of King’s College, Auckland, received the D. 5.0., states the citation, “ for outstanding leadership, bravery, and. determination.,” At El Torier depression, on the night of July 21-22, Colonel Peart led his South Island battalion in the New Zealand Sixth Brigade’s attack on the depression. The battalion reached its objective to find 12 enemy tanks occupying it. Under Colonel Peart’s direction, the forward companies attacked tho tanks and knocked out three with sticky grenades. A reserve ammunition truck was blown up by tho tanks’ fire, and the reserve of antitank grenades was destroyed. Contact with the remainder of the brigade on tho left flank could not be made, although three successive patrols were sent out. At 4.30 a.m., when all efforts to make contact or obtain anti-tank support failed, Colonel Peart, withdrew the survivors of the forward companies, leaving his B Company in an intermediate position on the flank of tho Fifth New Zealand Brigade. At 8 a.m., when some General Grant tanks of an armoured brigade finally appeared, Colonel Peart personally led his reserve company and tanks forward to the depression and engaged the enemy tanks until there was no longer an infantry task. “ During all the fighting, Colonel Peart was constantly moving about among his men, encouraging them and at all times setting a high example of courage and perseverance,” the citation adds. “It was due to his outstanding leadership, discrimination, and sound judgment that the battalion remained a fighting unit.” Colonel Peart’s battalion was commanded at Sidi Rezegli last November by the All Black, Lieutenant-colonel .1. R. Page, who was wounded iii the famous attack on the Sidi ■ Rezcgh blockhouse. UNDER HEAVY FIRE. A. story of coolness and courage' in the face of constant danger is revealed in the citation covering tho award of the M.G. to Lieutenant K. J. Frazer, a son of Mr Justice Frazer. On July Id the 4th New Zealand Machine Gun Company was attached to brigade headquarters during tho attack on Ruwcisat Ridge. Enemy tanks were encountered and brigade headquarters was moved back. Lieutenant Frazer was ordered to go forward and join a South Island battalion. He.took his platoon forward under heavy fire until stopped by three enemy tanks at 200yds range. Instead of moving back ho remained still, and in the half-light was not discovered. Soon after he sighted four enemy guns, and with his platoon engaged them so successfully that the enemy abandoned the guns and withdrew. Shortly afterwards a body of enemy troops with prisoners was sighted. Lieutenant Frazer advanced with his platoon and released a Fifth Brigade Platoon, capturing the enemy guards. Throughout the rest of 'the day he remained in an exposed and isolated position and engaged numerous targets successfully. At 9 p.m. he returned to brigade headquarters with important information about our own troops. He was an inspiration to his men. WOUNDED BROUGHT IN. Corporal A. J. Voss attacked and destroyed an enemy medium machinegun post and its crew with hand grenades on the morning of July 15 during an attack on the Ruwcisat Ridge. Later in the morning, although hand ; grenades were thrown at him by a tank ! crew, Corporal Voss attacked the tank

with a pick in an effort to damage its tracks. He then moved out and brought in two wounded men under heavy fire from mortars and tank machine guns. During the whole attack Corporal Voss showed indifference to personal safety, and led his men with determination and vigour. In the course of a night attack on July 22 Corporal Voss’s platoon attacked what appeared to be a machinegun post. On nearing their objective six enemy tanks were encountered, supported hy infantry. As the line of withdrawal was cut off by tank machine-gun fire, the attack was continued. Corporal Voss led his section against two tanks, and by the use of anti-tank grenades forced them to retire damaged. He also destroyed several of the enemy with grenades and forced the remainder to retire. When the order to retire was given Corpora! Voss rallied his men and brought them out intact. TRANSPORT SAVED. When the New Zealanders broke through the German panzer ring at Minqar Qaim on the night of J Tine 2728, Regimental Sergeant-major Naughtou dismounted from his truck to straighten out a tangle of transport at one of the points where the convoy had changed direction. He remained there under intense fire of all types directing the traffic. He was undoubtedly responsible for the fact that a large percentage of the transport of both his own and other units kept to the right track and was not irretrievably lost. He was then knocked unconscious by a shel Isplinter which dented his steel helmet, and when lie recovered all tho transport had disappeared. Although still suffering from shock. In* walked through the enemy lines, and by walking and riding where he could got lifts he managed to get back to his own unit two days later in an exhausted condition. In spite of his'Condition he insisted on resuming duties immediately. SERGEANT’S EXAMPLE. When Sox-gcaut Kennedy’s platoon conxmander was killed dxxring the night attack on Ruweisat Ridge on July 1415 he collected Ids men and fought on to their objective. When he arrived he. found that his company had been broken up, so he collected all the men he could and took command. In the evening enemy tanks over-ran the position. Sergeant Kennedy kept control of his xxxen, axxd when he saw that the position, could not be held he placed all his men on an abandoned portee and drove off under heavy fire. The portee was hit and some of the men were wounded. Sergeant Kennedy struggled on with his portee, however, and eventually brought his men to safety. “ Throughout tho action Sex-geant Kennedy's conduct was a marvellous example to his men,” the citation says, “ and his fine leadership kept them together in very difficult circumstances.”