BRAVERY AWARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24748, 23 November 1943, Page 2

BRAVERY AWARD

NEW ZEALAND AIEMAN

WING COMMANDER'S D.S.O. (P A ) WELLINGTON, Monday With only one engine functioning, Acting-Wing-Commander Russell Mernman Mackenzie, of Christchurch recently flew a damaged aircraft from an action in the Aegean Sea to a safe landing in Cyprus. This and several other meritorious feats are mentioned in the citation to the award of the Distinguished Service Order just made to him. Official advice of this has been received by the Air Department. Describing Wing-Commander Mackenzie as an "excellent operational leader," the citation states that he also administered his squadron in an exemplary manner. As its leader, he led many strikes against the enemy. "His many meritorious feats of flying include sharing in the destruction of a JUBB,' savs the citation. "In July, 1943, in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire from shore and ships in the harbour,

Wing-Commander Mackenzie shared in tlie destruction of a large armed enemy merchant ship. His personal courage and devotion to duty have always been of the highest order, and it was due to his inspiration that his squadron contributed successfully toward upsetting the flow of German supplies to the Dod eca 11 ese Islands."

Wing-Commander Mackenzie received the Air Force Cross two years ago for meritorious service in England, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for service in the Middle East during the early part of this year. He first applied for a short-service commission in the Royal Air Force in 1935, and left for the United Kingdom in 1937. when he was 23 years of age. SERVICE CROSS ACTION AGAINST U-BOATS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Monday Advice has been received that Lieu-tenant-Commander Rodney Thomson has been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross in recognition of successful action against U-boats.

Lieutenant-Commander R. Thomson Lieutenant-Commander Thomson will be remembered by many New Zealanders as naval aide-de-camp when Lord Bledisloe was Governor-General. On returning to active service Lieu-tenant-Commander Thomson was posted to the China station, where he served in H.M.S. Kagle, which since has been lost by enemy action. He married Miss Ailsa Xeison, of Wellington, who at present is residing with her two children in Hampshire, England.

MISSING OFFICER THE SEARCH ABANDONED (0.C.) TAUPO, Monday The active search for Captain X. M. Louisson, of Auckland, in the Waikato River, was abandoned yesterday, after being carried on by the police and Mr. Len Baker for 11 days. During the last two days they concentrated on the heavy scrub near the Huka Falls. A motor-car, which had been standing deserted at the Huka Falls, was found to contain the driving licence of Captain Louisson, who has been missing since November 4. CYCLING AT NIGHT LAMP BATTERY SHORTAGE (O.C.)_ _ _ CHRISTCHURCH, Monday "While it is unthinkable from the safety point of view that cycling at night without lights can be' allowed, the problem is a difficult one. and I am afraid that you people who ride bicycles will have to use the trams at night until you can get batteries," said Mr. .IS. C. Levvey, S.M., when convicting and discharging n defendant. "Cyclists cannot get batteries at the present time, and 1 just don't know what, to do with these people," the magistrate told Senior-Sergeant J. Bickerdike, who was prosecuting. "We are placed in an awkward position as well," replied the seniorsergeant. Candle lamps or kerosene lamps were also not available, said the magistrate. WAGES DISPUTE GASWORKS INVESTIGATION An investigation into the wages dispute at the Auckland Gas Company, Limited, was opened yesterday. Mr. J. A. Gilmour, S.M., "of Wellington, presided, and representatives of the company and ot tiie employees were present. The investigation was held in the boardroom of the company and occupied all day. It will be continued to-day. CARGO PILLAGING CANTERBURY FIRMS' LOSSES (0.c.) CHRISTCHURCH, Monday Further lists of stolen ship-borne merchandise have been supplied by firms to the Canterbury Manufacturers' Association. Some of the items are:— 16S shirts from a single parcel, 475 tablecloths and 321 table napkins, 197J yards of fabric, 1(57 yards of satin, and other quantities of material almost as substantial.

The secretary to the association, Mr. R. T. Alston, said two firms had recently supplied returns of claims made for pillaged goods. Both covered the period from the beginning of September, since when such thefts appeared to have been on the increase. The 168 shirts were taken from a parcel which had been well wrapped and double-corded, and the ends of which had boon sealed with gummed paper tape. The total value of the stolen material was £'los 10s."The cases were being reported to the New Zealand Manufacturers' Federation, which would make representations to the Gov- ' eminent.