HERO OF KIEL RAIDS

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 December 1939, Page 12

HERO OF KIEL RAIDS

SCHOOLMASTER’S COMM ENTS. "Doran, eh? I wouldn’t be a bit surprised at anything Doran did.” In these words his former schoolmaster commented on the exploit which won for Acting-squadron leader Kenneth Christopher Doran the Distinguished Flying Cross. Doran had been decorated for his part in the Kiel raids. Said Mr F> M. Walker, who retired from St. Alban's School two years ago: “Doran was at the school for live years. He played scrum-half for the first fifteen. He was a. fearless boy. He would tackle anything. 1 believe he would go down to stop a train if necessary. He just didn’t care. I might have known he’d be in this raid business.

“What was his work like? Well, he worked just hard enough and not too hard. Oh, and he was a. useful sprinter, too. 1 see he won the 100yds when he was 14. But he didn’t shine at cricket. I can’t imagine Doran standing in the long field, waiting for a problematical catch once every 15 overs. “He was a day boy, and he used, to come to Schoolhouse, where the hoarders live, to eat his mid-day dinner. 1 always knew when Doran was there by the noise coining from the end of the table.