REVIEW IN DESERT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20624, 27 November 1941, Page 5

REVIEW IN DESERT

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF NEW ZEALAND BRIGADE INVESTITURE CEREMONY (Elec. Tel. Copyright-United Press Assn.) (From the ‘Official War Correspondent with the N.Z.E.F.) (Reed. Nov. 27. 9 a.m.) CAIRO, Nov. 26 Members of the first forward brigade of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. paraded recently at a desert camp before the Commander-in-Chief, General Sir Claude Auchinleck, who decorated three New Zealand officers for outstanding devotion to duty in Crete. General Auchinleck first inspected a brigade accompanied by the New Zealand Commander, Major-General B. C. Freyberg and other senior officers. The ceremony was simp'e but impressive. It was held in brilliant sunshine on a small plateau overlooking the Mediterranean. It was one of the rarest sights ever seen in the Western Desert. A full infantry brigade was drawn up in ceremonial parade. A ring of anti-aircraft guns placed round the parade ground explained its rarity. The officers decorated were Lieutenant C. H. Upham, Victoria Cross, Lieutenant-Colonel H. K. Kippenberger, Distinguished Service Order, and Major R. J. Lynch. Military Cross. Three Heroes of Brigade All three officers are members of this New Zealand brigade. Lieuten-ant-Colonel Kippenberger and Lieutenant Upham are a commanding officer and platoon commander respectively in a southern battalion. Major Lynch is a company commander in an Auckland battalion. The story of how Lieutenant Upham won the V.C. has already thrilled every soldier in the N.Z.E.F., as well as thousands of other troops in the Middle East. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant only two days ago. After the inspection of the brigade by General Auchinleck the names of the three officers concerned were called out and they lined up before General Auchinleck in front of the parade. The citation of Lieutenant Uphnm’s award, a most remarkable document, was read out by the brigade commander. Ribbons were then pinned on the tunics of Lieutenant Upham. Lieutenant-Colonel Kippenberger and Major Lynch in turn, General Auchinleck conversing quietly with each as he pinned the ribbon. Ceremonial March Fast

The ceremony ended with a march past, General Auchinleck taking the salute. He also stood on the roadside to take a salute from another brigade as it marched past in a long dusty column. This formation, which included Maoris, was engaged on a desert route march, the most effective toughening-up exercise the infantryman knows.

General Auchinleck spent the remainder of the day with the New Zealand troops. The ceremony attracted wide attention, and probably the largest assembly of war correspondents, radio, film and photographic correspondents yet assembled in the Western Desert attended.