REWARDED BY GREEK KING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 194, 18 July 1941, Page 5

REWARDED BY GREEK KING.

NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS. (From the Official War Correspondent with the 2nd N.Z.E.F.) CAIRO, Juno 24. It was a red letter day for a platoon in an Auckland Battalion recently when King George of Greece manifested his appreciation of services rendered to him by that platoon in Crete. Before the whole battalion, drawn up in mass formation, King George decorated the platoon commander, 2nd-Lieut. W. H. Ryan, and the 2-1 members of his platoon, who acted as bodyguard to His Majesty during the evacuation of Crete. Those who were decorated were: Lieut. Ryan,. Sergts. L. V. Smith, and J. F. Seymour, Cpls. W. J. Pritt, N. C. Dunn, and G. Kraser, L/Cpls. W. A. Smith,, A. Holgorson, Ptes. V. R. Ball, C. Hunt. R. Ward, H. Ward. T. G. H. Howell, L. A. Renwick, I''. W. Hislop. W. A. Pottit, J. 0. Bishop. H. Fulolier, T A. Manson, M.. Vincent, I. A. Sanders, H. P. Sanders, V» C. Saxon, \i. J. Franklin and A. M. Meredith. The story has already been told of how Mr Ryan's platoon was detailed to act as bodyguard for the Greek Royal party, during their evacuation from Crete. The task was no easy one and it involved an arduous journev a lengthy period without food. The New Zealanders carried out their duties efficiently and siiceesKfully and King George has lost no time in | showing his gratitude.

Major-Gcneral Freyberg, Y.C, attended the ceremony.