HEROES OF AIR MORE BRAVERY AWARDS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24832, 2 March 1944, Page 4

HEROES OF AIR

MORE BRAVERY AWARDS

OPOTIKI SQUADRON-LEADER (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday The award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to four members of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the Distinguished "Flying Medal to another was announced to-day. The recipients are:— D.F.C. Squadron-Leader William Papillion Kemp—Mr. A. W. Kemp, Opotiki (father);; Pilot-Officer McCorkingdale (Balclutha); Flight-Lieutenant Eric Snowden Kelly (Palmerston North) and Flight-Lieutenant John Gaskin Claridge (Palmerston North). D.F.M. Flight-Sergeant Arnold Divers (Dunedin).

The citation states that Flight-Lieu-tenant Kelly is a successful and gallant captain of an aircraft. He bombed i Cologne after one engine became unserviceable, and when bombing Nurembtirg enabled his gunner to shoot down a night fighter by the way he man- ! oeuvred his aircraft. H.e was horn and | educated in Palmerston North. Flight-Lieutenant Claridge has completed many successful operations against the enemy. He has displayed high skill, fortitude and devotion to duty. He was born in Masterton and educated in Palmerston North. Squadron-Leader Kemp, who is 24 years of age, was employed by the Auckland City Council when he joined the R.N.Z.A.F. in 1940. While in Auckland he had a distinguished career as an amateur boxer. He won the Auckland heavy-weight championship in 1939 and represented Auckland at the New Zealand boxing championships in the same year. Ho played Rugby football for tho Ponsonby senior team in 1938 and 1939 and has also plaved in Air Force teams in Canada and England.

CHILD ELECTROCUTED FATALITY AT HOME TOUCHED STOVE FITTING A child was electrocuted yesterday morning when he came in contact with a fitting' on an electric stove at his parents' home. The victim was John Henry Spiro, aged 18 months, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. Spiro, reside at 1 Somerset Road, Mount Roskill. The child was standing near the stove when it is believed he touched one of the prongs of a plug fitted info a point on the side of the stove. He had apparently pulled the plug partly out of the point. A neighbour attempted artificial respiration, which was later continued by a doctor, but their efforts were unsuccessful. An inquest was opened yesterday afternoon before Mr. J. H. Luxford", S.M., and adjourned. CAPSIZE OF A CAR CHILD SERIOUSLY INJURED VEHICLE DRIVEN BY MOTHER (0.C.) HAMILTON. Wednesday Extensive injuries were received by James Merlvn, aged two years, son of Mrs. R. K. Merlyn, of Matamata, when a motor-car driven by his mother overturned. The child was admitted to the Wnikato Hospital suffering from fractures of both, legs and a fractured pelvis.' His condition is serious.

WOMAN DRIVER'S INJURIES ACCIDENT NEAR HAMILTON (0.C.) HAMILTON, Wednesday Severe shock and head injuries were suffered by a young woman, Miss Alma Cornish,' of Tauranga, when her car overturned on the main south road between Hamilton and Te Rapa this afternoon. Miss Cornish was admitted to the Wnikato Hospital in a fairly serious condition.

' MINER KILLED CAUGHT BY FALL OF COAL (P.A.) WESTPORT, Wednesday A miner was fatally injured by a fall of coal in the Denniston colliery this afternoon. He was Mr. James Dunsmutr Curragh, aged 38, of Denniston, married, with one child. The injured man died_ while being taken to the Buller Hospital at Westport. BODY IN HARBOUR FATE OF MISSING MAN The body of Mr. Alfred Henry Cann, widower, aged about 50, a Works Department employee, who was lost overboard from the launch Alert, between Motuihi and Brown's Island at about midnight on Thursday, February 24, was recovered from tho outer harbour, near Musick Point, yesterday afternoon. Members of a picnic party in the vicinity noticed the body in tho water below some rocks and notified the Howick police. An inquest will be opened this ing-PILLION-RIDER HURT Severe concussion was .suffered by the pillion-rider of a motor-cycle which was involved in n collision with a motor-car at the corner of Atkinson Avenue and Princes Street. Otahubu. last evening. He was Mr, William Arthur Raymond Tregidga. married, aged 32, bus driver, of 257 Church Street, To Papapa. Ho was admitted to tlm Auckland Hospital, where his condition last night was serious. His companion on the motorcycle was slightly injured. COLLISION WITH TRAM When lie rode into the side of a triuncnr at Greenwood's Corner, Epsom, la to yesterday, a cyclist, Desmond Percival Pullan, electrician's apprentice, aged 17, son of Mr. P. Pnllan, of 163 A Queeii Street, Onehunga, suffered concussion, a fractured nose and lacerations to the face. He was taken to the Auckland Hospital, where his condition last night was not serious. STRUCK BY BICYCLE Concession, and fractures of tho left leg and] wrist were suffered yesterday afternoon by Mr. John Patrick McShanc, [widower, aged 49, of 40 Mast. Street. (Newton, when ho was knocked down bjy a bicycle in Freeman's Bay. He wai taken to tho Auckland Hospital, y'-'liere his condition last night was not seirious.