MILITARY DISTINCTIONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16583, 5 July 1917, Page 6

MILITARY DISTINCTIONS

ITALIAN DECORATIONS.

NEW ZEALAND RECIPIENTS. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Wednesday. Five soldiers of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and one officer of the Royal Flying Corps have received the silver medal for military valour, of the Order of the Crown of Italy. The names, with next-of-kin, are — Second-Lieut. Geoffrey G. Callender, R.F.C.—W. Callender, Bank of New ' Zealand, Wellington. Lieut. Mervyn R. Walker, C.I.—T. Walker, Dunedin. Cpl. Francis R. Martin, P.B.— C. A. Martin, Wyndham. Henry Benny, O.L—Mrs. H. Benny, Broaddeld. Samuel J. Patterson, Med. C. —Mrs. I.

Patterson, Vermont Street, Auckland. Cecil M. Well*, W.I.—J. Wells, Christchurch. All except Callender are still on active service.

Second-Lieutenant Geoffrey Gordon Callender i s a son of Mr. W. Callender, general manager of the Bank of New Zealand. He is now stationed at No. 1 School of Aerial Gunnery, Hythe. Lieutenant Callender was one of the first pupils of the New Zealand Flying School, Kohimarama, where he qualified for his commission. The act for which he has gained the Italian honour wa probably the following :Flying over the German lines he engaged an enemy aeroplane and brought it down. He was, however, wounded in the cheek, and his engine stopping, he had to volplane from a height of 10,000 ft, with 10 miles to go to reach his own lines. On the way down, Lieutenant Callender was engaged by another German aviator, but he accounted for him, and succeeded in landing safely in his own lines.

GALLANTRY AT MSSSINES.

AUCKLANDERS DECORATED

The following- are personal particulars of a number of the Auckland n-en to whom, the Military Medal has been awarded for gallantry in the field during the battle of Messines: — PRIVATE R. H. McDrVITTPrivate Reginald H. McDivitt, Auckland Infantry, is the eldest son of Mr. W. McDivitt, of Pukekohe, and was born in Victoria, 22 years ago- He was educated at Pukekohe and Remuera schools. Prior to his enlistment he was employed by the Gane Milking Machine Company at Hamilton and Auckland. Private McDivitt left with the Main Body and was wounded at Gallipoli. He accompanied the New Zealand force to France, and fought through the Somme engagements. Private McDivitt was a keen Rujjbv footballer, and is a member of the Druids' Lodge, Taumarunui. His brother, Frank McD:vitt, well-known as. a jockey, is also in the trenches. BOMBARDIER W. H. TURNER. Bombardier William H. Turner, artillery, is a son of Mr. William Turner, Melrose Street, Newmarket. He enlisted in the Artillery of an early reinforcement, and has since been continuously on active service. His brother, Bombardier Francis Turner, is in the same unit, and left with the same reinforcement. The remaining member of the family of military age, Malcolm F. Turner, enlisted in a still earlier reinforcement and went into camp, but was declared medically unfit. The Newmarket Borough Council passed a resolution last evening congratulating Mr. and Mrs. Turner upon the honour conferred , on their son and upon the family record.

CORPORAL S. A. CROWHURST. • Corporal Samuel A. Crowhurst, Auckland Infantry, is the son of Mr. S. G. Crowhurst, of Roxburgh Street, Newmarket. He enlisted in the Auckland Infantry, and left with an early reinforcement. He has been on active service since in Gallipoli and France. He comes of a fighting family. His brother, Corporal Victor R. Crowhurst, who left in the same reinforcements, was wounded at Gallipoli, and again in France, and is now in the Brockenhurst Hospital. Another brother, Private Arthur Crowhurst, enlisted in the Rifle Brigade, and succumbed to cerebromeningitis while in camp. Two other brothers, Francis and Leslie, went into -training camp last week. The Newmarket Borough Council at a. meeting last n.glit congratulated Mr. and Mrs. Crowhurst upon the distinction conferred on their son, and also upon the fine record of the family.

BOMBARDIER J. N. BAXTER. Bombardier James N. Baxter, Artillery, is well known in the Waikato. He is the second son of Mr. James Baxter, Ohaupo. Prior to the war Bombardier Baxter was engaged in the office of' Messrs. Watts, Hunt and Armstrong. He took a keen interest in territorial training, being an enthusiastic member of G Battery. He left with an early reinforcement. PRIVATE E. McKENZIE. Private E. McKenzie, Hamilton, left with one of the earlier reinforcements, hut was taken ill on the transport, and consequently did not take part in the landing on Gallipoli. He was invalided to England, where he spent eight months in hospital. Afterwards he went to France, and took part 'in the battle of the Somme. Prior to leaving Hamilton Private McKenzie was in the employ of Messrs. Ellis and Burnand for 12 or 14 years. One brother, H. A. McKenzie, was killed in action at Suvla Bay. Private McKenzie's mother resides in Hamilton. PRIVATE S. W. HARDING. Private Rolf W. Harding. Auckland Infantry, is a son of Mr. A. E. Harding, of Aoroa. He wa born at Aoroa, and completed his education at the Wan'ganui Collegiate School. While at Trentham he passed the examination for a commission, but being unwilling to wait for a vacancy he sailed for the front as a private. Private Harding is 22 years of age, and is famed as a good shot. PRIVATE K. M. RUTHERFORD. Private Ken. McKay Rutherford, Medical Corps, is the youngest son of Mr. J. G. Rutherford, Orakei Road, Remuera. He left with the Rifle Brigade over a year ago. Prior to leaving Auckland he carried on business in Commerce Street as a land agent and grain merchant. He had for several years been a member of the Auckland College Rifles and) the Yacht Club.