Gallant Seamen Decorated

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 215, 10 September 1943, Page 5

Gallant Seamen Decorated

(Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 9. The Prime Minister has received advice that the King has approved an award of the British Empire Medal {Military Division) to Leading Signalman John Lawrence William Salter, R.N.Z.N.V.R. (wife, Mrs. E. T. Salter, Dunedin), and to Ordinary Telegraphist Walter George Thomas Bright, R.N.Z.N. (mother, Mrs. E. Bright, Christchurch), and also the Distinguished Service Medal to Officers ' Steward Ernest Bar ton, R.N. (wife, Mrs. Margaret Barton Liverpool). The awards to Salter and Bright are in connection with a joint action. The citation says: “Salter and Bright refused to leave a signalman who was unconscious and severely injured on the bridge of H.M.N.Z.S. Moa. These ratings realised he could not be thrown into the water and therefore, in the fhort time available, fitted him with a life jacket and when the ship disappeared, floated off supporting him Their coolness and courage undoubtedly saved his life and is considered particularly praiseworthy in view of the fact that they had no knowledge of the side towards which the ship would list or capsize or sink.” The award' to Barton is for courage and devotion to duty in the presence of the enemy in successfully treating other wounded ratings when he himself wa< severely wounded, until he collapsed, when the vessel in which he sen ing was engaged with four Japanese barges on January 30. A shell had exploded, setting fire to a cordite charge at a gun where he was serving at the time, causing heavy casualties among the gun crew, including himself. Two barges were sunk as the result of this action. Since the engagement Barton has completed his service on loan to the Royal New Zealand Navy and returned for further service with the Royal Navy.