BRAVERY UNDER FIRE

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 119, 19 April 1945, Page 6

BRAVERY UNDER FIRE

(Official War Correspondent, N.Z.E.F.) t N THJK FluLO, April 16. The weeks series oi small, savage fights wliile we secured the bank or the Senio for the starting line for the battle provided many instances of individual gallantry as tne battle itself lias uone since, and many members ot the 21st Battalion distinguished themselves. One of a volunteer assault team detailed to clean out an enemy machine-gun post which dominated the wnoie or tne company front, Sergt. C. Rae, of Waihi, had to keep Ins men working for four hours under heavy counter-fire by mortars, bazooKa's and. grenaues aiaer the capture of the enemy post. He did a wonderful job of leadership and inspiration. Repeated bravery was shown by Sergt. H. A. Gardiner, of Waikaka, over a period of two days when be crept forward and fired more than eignt Bangalore torpeuoes, blowing a way through the wire for the hist assault. Others who distinguished themselves in the preliminary lighting included Pte. M. Brown, of Taumaruuui, a stretcher-bearer who -repeatedly went out under "tire with complete disregard for the danger and tended the wounded. After a tough fight to establish its start-line the 21st ran into plenty of trouble and a Spandau on the enemy stopbank held one company pinned until Second-Lieutenant D. Boys, of Kirikopunui, stood up on our stopbank and silenced it with a Piat. The Senio was crossed and Sergt. P, Leach, of Waikiki, was slightly wounded at the start. On the opposite stopbank a German bobbed up. Sergt. Leach's tommy-gun jambed and he grabbed a shovel and threw it at the German who promptly surrendered. Sergt. Leach continued on and was responsible for the clearing of a number of casas of Germans.

It is impossible to record all the individual acts of gallantry, but these carefully veiified examples are typical of the work which has enabled the division to advance with speed at the spearhead of the drive to destroy the German armies in Italy. On the right flank of the Eighth Army the British troops who by-passed Argenta have established a bridgehead across the Manna Canal. The New Zealanders have reached the line of the Medicina Canal and have linked on their left- with Gurkha troops who captured the town of Medicina.