ROYAL HONOURS BESTOWED— Investiture Ceremony At Greymouth

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 November 1949, Page 8

ROYAL HONOURS BESTOWED— Investiture Ceremony At Greymouth

Twenty-three , former servicemen gnd six civilians who have been honoured by the King for services given to their country were the recipients of decorations and medals at the investiture yesterday, the first investiture to be held in Greymouth. Their awards were bestowed upon them by the Governor-General, Sir ‘ Bernard Freyberg, V.C., with the consent of His Majesty, the King. Although brief, the ceremony was a memorable one lor citizens. Included in -the list, of recipients were many men and \vomon who have been prominent in the public life of the West Coast over a long span of years, and also men who gave outstanding service in the last war.

Among the recipient.*? of civil decorations, were three mayors or former mayors of towns on the West Coast—Mr F. A. Kitchingham, a former Mayor of Greymouth, Mr W. J. Robertson, Mayor of Westport, and Mr A. Elcock, a former Mayor of Hokitika. Miss E. Julius, andJVlrs C. McKane, of Cobden, are also well-known figures on the Coast. Among the servicemen with distinguished records during the recent war was Colonel Denver Fountaine, of Westport, who received-a double decoration, the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross. His was the only double decoration at the ceremony. Theatre Well Filled The Regent Theatre was well filled long before the ceremony opened. Their Excellencies proceeded down the aisle, and, together with their aide-de-camps, took up their positions on the stage. His Excellency then briefly explained that the awards were being made to each recipient for honourable service.

Those to receive awards lined up in the aisle, the Army personnel dressed in service uniform.. In turn, each recipient took his _place on the stage, where the citation for his or her decoration was read, before His Excellency attached the appropriate ribbons or medals.

The citations were read by Squadron 'Leader P. R. Clapham, D.F.C., R.A.F., military secretary. The other staff accompanying His Excellency were Lieu tenant Gordon Tait, D.S.C., R.N.; Lieutenant Commander S. W. Hicks, V.R.D., R.N.Z.N.V.R., Lieutenant Colonel J. A. Bretherton, R.N.Z.A. and Squadron Leader G. W. Brabyin, A.F.C.

The citations, with the recipients’ names given under the respective decorations awarded, are a§ follows: M.B.E. (Civil)

Mr Albert Elcock (Hokitika) for his valuable services in connection with patriotic and welfare work during the war, particularly as chairman of the Westland Provincial Patriotic Council.

Miss Elsie Julius (Wellington), for her valuable services as Sister in Charge of the maternity annexe of Greymouth Public Hospital and on account of the shortage of trained nurses steadfastly continuing her duties although due for retirement. Mr Frederick Kitchingham (Greymouth) for his valuable services as chairman of the Provincial Patriotic Zone Commit.ee in connection with patriotic and welfare work during the war.

Mrs Christine McKane (Cobden) for her valuable services in connection with patriotic and welfare work on the West Coast during the war. Mr John Robertson (Westport) for his valuable public services as Mayor of the borough of Westport, after earlier service as a member of the Borough Council. MT Edward Rose (Kumara) for his valuable services as District Superintendent of the St John Ambulance Brigade, West Coast district, during the war years. Distinguished Service Order Colonel Denver Fountaine (Westport) for his great skill and gallantry when commanding the 20th Battalion of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the night attack on an enemy position near the Mareth Line, between March 21 and 23, 1943. With only a limited amount of artillery support, Colonel Fountaine’s battalion penetrated the enemy position, which was well organised and protected by mines, anti-tank ditches dnd wire, to a depth of over 2000 yards, capturing the objective and taking several hundred prisoners. Colonel Fountaine was also awarded the Military Cross for his outstanding qualities of leadership and courage when commanding a company in November, 1941. On one occasion he extricated it with small loss from a desperate situation when attacked by seven enemy tanks on the Bardia road. In operations at Bir Cleta, and in the night attack on Bel Hamed he led his Company with dash and spirit. He also did'outstanding work .in the attack on Maleme, in Crete, on May 22 1941 ’m.B.E. (MILITARY)

Squadron Leader Owen Evans (Westport) for his exceptional ability as an accountant officer in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, especially when serving in the New Zealand Liaison Office in Canada, where he displayed outstanding zeal and devotion to duty. He was responsible for organising the repatriation of Royal'New Zealand Air Force personnel and their dependents to New Zealand, performing this task with great efficiency. Flying Officer Cyril Hector (kunanga) for his outstanding service as an armament officer in the Royal New Zealand Air Force, in both the. United Kingdom and New Zealand, being invariably hard-working and conscientious and proving himself a most efficient officer with highly valuable technical knowledge. military cross Lieutenant Donald Brown (Denniston) for his outstanding initiative and courage as officer in command of a troop of unarmoured bulldozers and armoured Sherman-dozers during the opening up and clearing of roads ahead of tanks during the operations at Faenza and Celle. On several, occasions at night this officer remained in the open directing operations despite heavy enemy fire which put bulldozers out of action. He also, unaided, cleared mines from roads, and went, forward on foot under fire to direct the work, setting a fine example to all under his command. DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS Flying Officer Beryck Dalcom, (Greymouth) for the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty which he invariably displayed in the completion of numerous, air operations against the enemy. > Flight Lieutenant John Houlton, (Boddytown) for his notable skill and determination throughout a very large number of varied sorties. This officer shot down four enemy aircraft, three of them within a short period. Flying Officer Robert Kennedy (Christchurch) for his coblness and

courage in the face of the. enemy, especially during a daylight attack against an airfield at Essen-Mulheim in December, 1944, when an enemy shell detonated several oxygen bottles i in his aircraft. The blast tore a hole in the fuselage, destroyed all navigational equipment and charts,. ;and the inter-communication system. The 'windscreen was shattered by the explosion, making the -interior of the bomber intensely cold. Although severely shaken, Flying Officer Kennedy gave great, assistance to his captain and rendered first-aid to the injured members of the crew. His courage, efficiency and cheerfulness throughout the incident contributed largely to the safe return of the badly-damaged bomber. ; Flight Lieutenant Joseph Morel j (Napier) for his great fortitude, courage and devotion to duty I throughout numerous air attacks vzhich he carried out against enfemy targets.

Flying Officer Raoul Wisker (Stockton) for his courage and skilful airmanship as captain of an aircraft detailed'to attack a flying bomb site near Linzelix on July 9, 1944. On I the bombing run the aircraft was repeatedly hit by anti-aircraft fire, one shell bursting immediately beneath the starboard wing and causing the aircraft to go into a violent spiral dive. This officer managed to regain control, and despite the severe damage to the aircraft, made a second bombing run and executed a successful attack. He later discovered that the aircraft sustained 205 holes. He proved himself to be a keen and conscientious pilot. DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL

Sergeant Stanley Schroder (Koiterangi) for his great gallantry and devotion to duty during the Battle of Crete. On one occasion when detailed as a regimental aid post orderly at a time when his company was suffering heavy casualties, he moved fearlessly through streets which were continuously straffed and mortared, bringing wounded back and improvising rough but effective bandages. On the night of May 25, 1941, when his company counter-attacked at Galatos, he was wounded painfully in the knee, but even though unable to walk, he continued to crawl amongst the many casualties in Galatos Square, dressing wounded and dragging them into the gutter and comparative safety. He also creased open ground held by the enemy and under fire guided other troops across. He went out to destroy containers of enemy weapons and equipment. His deeds and fearlessness were an example to all his comrades. ( GEORGE MEDAL Corporal Frederick Herring (Westport) for his self-sacrifice, courage and gallantry on the night of January 10, 1945. Corporal Herring was preparing to send 36 grenades out to the outposts when one fell to the floor. The impact caused the safety pin to fall out, releasing the handle and striker. Corporal Herring immediately appreciated the danger to the other personnel in the small room, and, without hesitation, picked up the grenade and attempted to get it through the doorway. Unfortunately it exploded just as he opened the door, and Corporal Heiving suffered extremely severe injuries, necessitating the amputation of his right hand and right leg. By his brave action he saved his Comrades from serious injury, if not death. MILITARY MEDAL Private Harold Aberhart (Nelson) for his courage and resource in all engagements during the period November 20 to December 1, 1941, his coolness and initiative under fire being an inspiration to his section. These qualities were noticeable at all particularly in the engagements at Menastir and the night attack on Bel Hamed. Staff Sergeant Mervyn Curtis (Greymouth) for his great courage and initiative when a British aircraft was shot down and made a forced landing on the beach in front of „one of the gun pits during a heavy enemy air attack on Maleme aerodrome, in

Crete, on May 15, 1941. In making the forced landing, the aircraft overturned and pinned the pilot in his seat upside down. Although an enemy aeroplane was attempting to set fire to the damaged British n/achine with incendiary bullets, Staff Sergeant Curtis ran forward and freed the pilot from his parachute harness and took him back to

safety. Corporal Leslie Duncan (Koiterangi) for the fine . leadership, gallantry and initiative which he displayed when leading a small detachment of sappers in the advance on Tripoli and in Tunisia. On one occasion under intense fire from, the enemy, he demolished 31 Italian anti-tank and field guns, and thus prevented them from falling into enemy hands. He also made a very daring reconnaissance of heavilymined roads to within 400 yards of the enemy, lifting mines and boobytraps on the way.

Corporal Cecil Mathieson (Reefton) foi’ his courage when leading a section of a forward platoon of the 23rd Battalion during the attack from Santa Grata. The platoon, after hard and bitter fighting, lacking tank support, with its mortar ammunition expended and without support on either flank, was twice counter-attacked by enemy “Tiger” tanks and driven back. On each occasion this non-commis-sioned officer courageously moved about the battlefield reorganising and leading his men forward. He then volunteered to guide our tanks up, fearlessly exposing himself to a hail of enemy fire. He was an inspiration to everyone, and did much to maintain the high morale and fighting spirit of his men and so enabled his company to withstand the enemy attacks. Trooper Nelson Perkins (Westport) for his gallantry and devotion to duty when his troop commander was severely wounded whilst making a forward reconnaissance in Italy on August,3, 1944. Despite heavy enemy fire, this soldier climbed out of his tank and carried the wounded officer up an exposed road to shelter, dressed his wounds, and then rendered first-aid to other wounded infantry, still under, heavy -fire* until ordered back to his tank. As he was climbing aboard he was himself wounded. His example- and fearless conduct under most trying circumstances were characteristic of him.

Corporal James Savage (Ahaura) for his courage and devotion to duty during the break-through from Minqar Qaim on the, night of June 27 and 28, 1942. This soldier’s lorry was hit by an enemy tank shell when it was stopped, and a number of troops around it were wounded. He took command of the situation, and despite

heavy enemy fire, loaded the wounded on to his truck and set off after the main convoy which had already left. On the way they were hailed by a tank, and Corporal Savage showed great courage in approaching it alone to find that the crew was friendly. The party caught up with the convoy some two hours later. By his devotion to duty and courage, Corporal Savage was responsible for the return to safety of 45 of his comrades, a number of them wounded. BRITISH EMPIRE MEDAL Corporal Joseph Boland (Murchison) for his devotion to duty,.doggedness under adverse conditions, and determination under fire as the senior driver-mechanic in his platoon from August, 1941. His aptitude and resourcefulness were invaluable in the maintenance of his platoon vehicles, especially on long desert moves when military transport spares were not available. Corporal Charles Larcombe (Greymouth) for his coolness, -courage and devotion to duty in the face of the enemy air attacks when driving military trains on the Western Desert railway in 1942 and 1943. Although previously subjected to many attacks and on one occasion severely scalded when the boiler of his engine was pierced by cannon shells from an enemy fighter, this non-commissioned officer continued his duty with undaunted zeal. Staff Sergeant George Weenink (Greymouth) for his coolness, determination and devotion to duty as a quartermaster-sergeant in the 20th Battalion throughout the campaigns in Greece, Crete, Libya and Egypt. During some periods he was wholly responsible for'the rationing and equipping of over 300 men in extremely trying circumstances, but he executed his duties with marked skill sometimes under severe bombing and shelling. He set a fine example to his men. EFFICIENCY DECORATION Major Bernard Mathewson (Westport).'' 1 Major John Watson (Westport). SIR BERNARD AND LADY FREYBERG LEAVE GREYMOUTH, The Governor-General, Sir, Bernard Freyberg, and Lady Freyberg departed from Greymouth this morning for Nelson,’ on their return to Wellington. After the investiture yesterday, they attended a private function where they met. the .wives; and relatives of honours recipients,

and in the evening His Excellency attended a Masonic Lodge meeting. Lady Freyberg was entertained in ! the evening at a function organised ■by the Mayoress, Mrs F. F. Boustridge, on behalf of townspeople. Held in Harker’s Lounge, the function was attended by representatives of various women’s organisations, by the wives of honours recipients at the investiture, and also by wives of borough councillors and of local body members. An address of welcome to Her Excellency was made by Mrs Boustridge, after which Lady Freyberg gave an interesting talk on her travi els throughout the Dominion. She 'also discussed other subjects, especially thanking woipen’s organisations in Greymouth for the part they had played in sending food parcels to .Britain. | The guests—there were about 100 present —were received by Lady Freyberg during the evening.