B.E.M. AWARDED

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 January 1944, Page 3

B.E.M. AWARDED

COURAGE ON SOUTHERN ALPS

WELLINGTON, January 18. The Governor-General announced that the King has awarded the British Empire Medal to Corporal Tom Nelson Newth, R.N.Z.A.F., ol Cnristchurch. , , The citation details a conspicuous part Newth played in a search fou two airmen lost during a mountainclimbing expedition on the slopes ol Mount Malte Brun, in the Southern Alps in March, 1943. Particulai ieference is made to his couraegous feat in carrying out a sole traverse of the dangerously precipitous aiea. After Air Force and police parties had searched unsuccessfully, Newth continued to search in a dangerous area alone. He found articles that proved that the lost airmen had been m the area. Unfortunately no sign of the bodies was found. “Newth, •who is a very experienced climber,’ states the citation, “was fully cogni°ant of risks involved in solo climbing and knew that if a slip occurred there would be small chance of savin? himself on bad ground such as he encountered on the climb. in spite of the fact that he knew trie risks he was taking he continued to ascend, traverse, and descend a pncipitous rock face by himself. Ti e strain was such as to elicit remarks that ‘he was. done to a frazzle on rejoining his companions. To continue for five hours by himself under such conditions, knowing the risks he ran, was an outstanding performance, ard an indication of the courage and fortitude displayed by Newth. Newth was born m Christchurch m 1914, educated at Christchurch Technical College, gained a senior free place after leaving school, and er_tered the carpentry:and joinery trade. He was keen on outdoor sports, particularly mountaineering and swimming. He enlisted in the R.N.Z.A.J., in 1'940, to commence training as a flight ri CTCf er He was accepted last December as a flight engineer in an air crew His wife, Mrs Esther Newtn, i Riccarton.