IMMEDIATE AWARDS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 78, 3 July 1943, Page 5

IMMEDIATE AWARDS

2nd N.Z.E.F. PERSONNEL FIVE NELSON MEN INCLUDED SERVICE IN MIDDLE EAST Wellington, This Day. Advice that the King had approved the following 48 immediate awards (one posthumous) to personnel of the Second N.Z.E.F. serving in the Middle East has been received by the Prime Minister. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER Lieut.-Colonel F. M. H. Hanson (wife, Mrs C. M. Hanson, Wellington). Lieut.Colonel Hanson was chief engineer to the Main Highways Board when he was appointed to the Second N.Z.E.F. In addition to being a brilliant scholar he gained all-round prominence in sport, particularly Rugby, cricket, boxing and rowing. Temporary-Major W. B. Thomas (father, Mr W. H. Thomas, Riwaka, Nelson). Wounded and captured by the enemy in June, 1941, during the Greece and Crete campaign, Major Thomas made three unsuccessful attempts at escape until with other New Zealanders he succeeded in getting away from Greece by boat. He was awarded the Military Cross and bar in October, 1942. He is 25 years of age. Lieut. M. Wikiriwhi (Mrs T. Delamare (s), Te Piki, Cape Runaway). Lieut. Wikiriwhi, who was wounded in June, 1941, is 25. BAR TO MILITARY CROSS Temporary-Major R. C. Pemberton (next of kin, Mr Charles A. Pemberton, Christchurch). MILITARY CROSS Captain P. Gilchrist, Mr P. Gilchrist, Te Aroha (f). Captain W. J. G. Roach, Mrs J. C. S. Roach, Shannon (m). Lieut. A. F. Bailey, Mrs R. M. T. Bailey, Christchurch (w). Lieut. A. C. Hansen, Mrs M. E. Hansen, Nelson (m). Lieut. A. S. Robins, Mr H. J. Robins, Queenstown (f). Lieut. I. H. Hirst, Mrs E. H. Hirst, Auckland (m). 2/Lieut. G. J. Thomas, Mrs J. E. Thomas, Nelson (w). DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL Warrant Officer II A. R. G. Lock, Mrs W. Lock, Lyttelton (w). Sgt. W. J. Smith, Mrs E. B. Smith, Timaru (m). L/Sgt. L. A. Steiner, Mr J. M. Steiner, Opunake road, Taranaki (f). Bdr. A. O. Keating, Mr A. O. Keating, Wanganui (f). Pte. T. Heka, Mrs K. C. Heka, Kaltaia (w). MILITARY MEDALS Warrant Officer I D. J. Farmer, Ivlr Farmer, Feilding (fi.

Temporary Warrant Officer II F, J. Muir, Mrs A. Muir, Dunedin (w). Sergeant F. T. Housham, Mr A. W. D. Housham, Waihopo (f). Sergeant A. S. Logan, Mr J. F. Logan, Taihape (f). Sergeant C. R. Mellsop, Mr H. O. Mellsop, Waikowhai (f). Sergeant P. B. Newell, Mr J. Newell, Linwood (b). Sergeant I. Weepu (next-of-kin, Mrs C. H. Weepu, Petone). Sergeant C. W. Welsh, Mr W. Welsh, Seaward Downs (f). Temp.-Sergt. R. S. Tappin, Mr S. H. Tappin, Matamata (f). Lance-Sergt. E. E. Cutforth (next-of-kin, Mrs A. R. Cutforth, Auckland). Lance-Sergt. T. Trainor, Mrs P. Trainor, Taneatua (m). Corporal N. B. Cook, Mrs M. Cook, Kerikeri Inlet (m). Corporal J. A. Glover, Mrs M. Glover, Gisborne (m). Corporal E. M. Stoddart, Mrs M. Stoddart, Australia (m). Temp.-Corp. R. Waaka, Mrs Lowbew, Australia (m). Temp.-Corp. R. W. Heine, Mr J. Heine, Nelson (f). Lance-Corp. J. W. Jameson, died of wounds, Mrs E. M. Jameson, Mukiwai (m). Lance-Corp. H. Ruha, Mrs M. Ruha, Mokai (m). Lance-Corp. B. A. W. Worthington, Mrs F. Worthington, Onehunga (m). Private H. R. Barton, Mrs E. Barton, Whangarei (m). Private W. T. F. Buchanan, Mrs M. E. Buchanan, Christchurch (w). Private R. J. V. Carter, Mr H. Carter, Picton (f). Private L. P. Challis, Mrs P. H. Challis, Nelson (m). Private E. J. Dickson (next-of-kin, Mrs W. Dickson, Dunedin). Temp.-Lance-Corp. H. Grant, Mrs Grant, Rotorua (m). Private R. S. Mead, Miss R. Mead, Auckland (s). Private A. H. Meyer, Mrs W. L. Phillips, Auckland (m). Private A. J. Parry, Mrs F. McLeod, Invercargill (m). Private M. R. Potae (next-of-kin, Enoka Potae, Te Araroa. Private H. R. Russell, Mr A. H. Russell, Opotiki (f). Private W. M. White, Mrs H. C. White, Rangataua (m). Private P. Wilson, Mr Te Oro Wilson, Mahoenui, Taranaki (f). —P.A. DEEDS OF GALLANTRY NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGN (N.Z. Official News Service) Cairo, June 30. Twenty-seven of 148 immediate decorations —three Military Crosses, three Distinguished Conduct Medals ahd 21 Military Medals —were awarded to New Zealand infantrymen for gallantry and devotion to duty in the battle for Takrouna. All but five of these awards were won on the night of 19th-20th April, when against the fiercest opposition, New Zealand infantry battalions began their last major battle in the North African campaign. Nine of the others —two Military Crosses, one Distinguished Conduct Medal and six Military Medals—were won when the New Zealanders’ attack on the Enfidaville Line on the night of 24th-25th April produced many deeds of gallantry.