N.Z. NAVY “ACE”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 21 July 1944, Page 4

N.Z. NAVY “ACE”

YOUNG WELLINGTON OFFICER RECENT ATTACK ON C ONVOY MOST SUCCESSFUL OPERATION London. July 20. j Lieut. g‘. J. Macdonald. D.S.C. and | two bars 'Wellington), who at the age |of 22 is the youngest senior officer i commanding a motor torpedo-boat j flotilla in the Navy, led his boats in a most successful attack on sth July when he damaged two enemy 900-ton coastal ships and one M-class minesweeper off Texel. Also in action was Sub-Lieut. R. A. Mitford-Burgess (Te Araroa). who is second in command on one of the motor torpedo-boats. Macdonald set off with his boats late in the afternoon of 4th July, to search for a convoy near Tcrschelling. He contacted it after midnight and skilfully divided his force so that a determined attack was made against the convoy from two sides. Despite heavy and accurate defensive fire Macdonald led the boats in three times against the convoy and then withdrew. He had a shot fired through his wheel iiouse and a small fire astern but there were no casualties. Macdonald was preparing to return lo the base when he encountered a second convoy ncr Texel. Down had now broken and daylight meant the possibility of enemy aircraft, but Macdonald immediately went in for an attack and in one of the few daylight actions by coastal forces during the war his flotilla sank two ships despite stiff opposition. In addition to firing his torpedoes Macdonald was close enough to the enemy to use his Oerlikon guns. Mifjord-Burgess fired a torpedo which sank a trawler. After this most successful action the flotilla set out for its base where it arrived late in the afternoon. It occurred shortly after Macdonald had received a second bar to his D.S.C. in recognition of his flotilla sinking a trawler off Ijuiden last March. These actions have further endorsed the high reputation won by this outstanding young R.N.Z.N.V.R. member who is the Dominion’s “ace” in the coastal forces. It is believed that no other R.N.Z.N.V.R. man holds a trebk D.S.C. EXCEPTIONAL CAREER Macdonald’s career has been exceptional. He is one of the few Navy men who became a lieutenant before he was 22 which is the lowest age at which that rank can be attained. When he was 22 all but a fortnight he was second in command of his flotilla. When his commanding officer was wounded in action. Macdonald was then promoted to acting senior officer an appointment which was confirmed immediate, ly he became 22 on 9th September. 1943. He continued to command until November. 1943, when the commanding officer returned and in February. 1944. he succeeded to the command as a fully qualified officer of the coastal forces. In March he sank a trawler and in another action he had his boat sunk under him when a six-pounder shell exploded under the water, making a hole in the craft. But he transferred to another boat and continued the action. He is greatly admired and has the reputation of being an indefatigable worker. Other New Zealanders at the same base include Lieutenant W. Drake (Wellington) who was recently promoted to senior officer of a motor-launch flotilla. Drake and Macdonald were both junior clerks together in the Bank ui New Zealand. Wellington. Drake now commanding minelaying launches. His first lieutenant is Sub-Lieut. A. C. Shaw (Wellington). In Macdonald’s flotilla also are Lieut G. J. Plank (Christchurch) who commands an M.T.B. and in another flotilla at the same base is Sub-Lieut. I. F. Southee (Wellington). The role of these small swift craft is chiefly protecting convoy lanes around the English coast against E-boats, but few E-boats are appearing these days —P.A. Special Correspondent.