N.Z. MEN PRAISED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20864, 17 August 1942, Page 2

N.Z. MEN PRAISED

WAR STORES SAVED TRAIN SET ON FIRE INCIDENT IN EGYPT (P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. The story of the bravery of four members of a New Zealand railway operating company in the Middle East who were largely instrumental in saving valuable War Department stores is told in orders issued by the general officer commanding the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Middle East, Major-General Sir Bernard Freyberg, an extract from which has been brought to the notice of the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. The order, which was issued on May 1 reads: “In February last a train proceeding to Mersa Matruh was bombed by enemy aircraft, causing the tank wagons to catch lire. The general officer commander’s attention has been drawn particularly to the commendable conduct of the four undermentioned. Their prompt action, at the risk of being badly burned, assisted in a valuable saving of War Department stores which otherwise would have been a total loss. They are: Sapper A. W. Bennett, engine driver, whose next-of-kin is Mrs J. E. Bennett, Invercargill; Sapper R. Graham, fireman, whose next-of-kin is Mrs. M. J. Graham, Kamo; Lance-Sergeant M. D. Walsh, whose next-of-kin is Mrs. M. B. Walsh, Auckland, and Sapper R. S. Simons, whose next-of-kin is Mr. F. Smith, Cheviot. The relationship in all cases is not stated. An entry in the pay-books and personal records of the above-named will be made accordingly.’’ Mr. Jones stated that he had also received advice of the excellent work of New Zealand railway units in the Middle East, both constructional and operating. The construction companies had carried the Western Desert line to a point not far short of Tobruk and the operating companies had been running the line under very difficult conditions, with harassing air attacks from the eneby. "Many expressions of commendation have been made by the General Headquarters, Middle East forces, on the work of these New Zealand units,’ continued Mr. Jones, who said there was no doubt that they had assisted very materially in the improvement of the supply position in the Western Desert.