PERSONAL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 31, 5 January 1945, Page 4

PERSONAL

Advice has been received from the Admiralty that the King has approved of the award of mention in despatches to T/Lieut. G. J. MacDonald, D. 5.0., D.S.C., and two Bars, for gallant services in actions in the North Sea in September and October, says a Press Association message. He belongs to Wellington. The King has approved of the immediate award of the Distinguished l 1 lying Cross to Flight-Lieut. F. N. Thomas. R.N.Z.A.F.. of Motueka. in recognition of gallantry displayed in living operations against, the onemv m the South Pacific area. The citation accompanying the award tells a story of courage, skill, and determination in the face of danger which enabled Flight-Lieut. Thomas, captain of the aircraft, to nurse a severely damaged | bomber for two hours and to make a brilliant landing without further 1 damage on an emergency strip only 1800 i'eet long. Advice has been received that Act-ing-Flying-Officer W. L. Shirley, aged 22, who was attached to the E.A.F. 1 Squadron, No. 552, and who gained his wings in Canada and his commission in England, was instantaneously killed in England in an air accident, with all his crew, and is buried at Brookwood Cemetery, near London He went to school at New Plymouth, Manchester Street (Feilding), and Palmerston North Boys' High, and at the time of enlistment was a clerical cadet in the Railway Department. He was the eldest son of Mrs, Shirley, of Feilding, and the late Mr S. E. Shirley, who served between three and loui years overseas in the Great War. Rev. C. E. Hyde, of Wairoa, has been appointed vicar of St. Mary's Church, Waipukurau, succeeding Canon C. Mortimer-Jones, who has been appointed vicar of Birkenhead. Mr Hyde attended the Theological College in Christchurch and was ordained a deacon in 1916. He was appointed curate in the parish of St. Augustine, Napier, and in 1928 was ordained a priest. In 1929 he went to England, spending three years in St, Gabriel's parish, Pimlieo, South London. On his return to New Zealand in 1932 Mr Hyde was appointed curate of All Saints' parish, Palmerston North. In 1933 he became, vicar of Puketapu and in 1936 of Wairoa In 1940 he was appointed a chaplain to the forces, going overseas with the Second Echelon. He served m the Middle East and then returned to New Zealand on the hospital ship Oranje. Later he became padre at the Linton military camp, and later he returned to his parish at Wairoa With the rank of major Mr Clarence Meachen, secretary of the St. John Ambulance Association, Wellington, has been appointed Red Cross Commissioner with the. Second N.Z.E.F.. .succeeding Major Tweedie who is returning to' New Zealand after a long term of service overseas. The appointment was made hy the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society, the agent of the National Patriotic Fund Board for the sick and wounded and prisoners of war, and was announced yesterday by the chairman of the council (Sir James Elliot). Major Meachen, he said, would 'leave shortly for overseas to assume his dulses. Mr Meachen is considered well equipped for the position to which he has been appointed. He has been secretary to the St. John Ambulance Association in Wellington since 1932 • for 14 years secretary of the Otaki Health Camp for Children, and for the past seven years secretary of the New Zealand Crippled Children Society. Mr Meachen was the founder of the Wellington and National Blood Transfusion Services. He is a member of the Wellington Hospital Board.