FLYING CROSS

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25048, 11 November 1944, Page 6

FLYING CROSS

BEAT]FIGHTER PILOT AIRMAN FROM ROTORUA The Distinguished Flying Cross has been awarded to Flight-Lieutenant Thomas Henry Davidson, son of Mrs E. Davidson, of Devon Street, Rotorua, and of the late Mr T. 11. Davidson. Flight-Lieutenant Davidson is a member of the New Zealand Beaufighter Squadron whiclr has operated from England against many German shipping convoys with considerable success.

Flight-Lieutenant Davidson is aged 23 and left for overseas three years ago. He was educated at the Jtotorua High School, Auckland Training College, and Auckland University College, and before lie enlisted in the R.N.Z.A.F. he was teaching at the Tatiranga High School. SOLDIER DECORATED DISTING LUSHED SERVICE (P.A.) WELLINGTON, B'riday The award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal to Private Walter James Siely, of Trentham, for gallant and distinguished service in the field, was announced today. Private Siely was a printer in civil life. Twenty-six years of age, he left with the First Echelon. AIRMAN'S SERVICE WOKK IN SOLOMONS AMERICAN APPRECIATION Commendation of the service of Group-Captain C. W. Iv. Nicholls, D.5.0., R.A.F., son of Captain.and Mrs C. L. Nicholls, of Auckland, who commanded a New Zealand fighter wing at Bougainville earlier this year, has been expressed by Lieutenant-Gen-erai M. R. Harmon, then commanding all Allied air forces in the Solomons. The commendation was made when General Harmon relinquished that appointment some months ago, but has only just been received in Auckland.

In the letter of commendation. General Harmon says it was due primarily to the efforts and devotion to duty of Group-Captain, then Wing-Commander, Nicholls, that continued air operations against the enemy were possible from the Torokina base during the period from March 8 to April 1, when the Japanese made determined assaults on the Allied perimeter, and made it necessary to abandon two other air strips for about two .weeks. General Harmon says this made it necessary for all operations to be conducted from Torokina, and placed a tremendously increased burden of work and responsibility on Group-Captain Nicholls. To his operational difficulties were added the hazards of intermittent artillery fire. Group-Captain Nicholls, who has gone overseas again on further duty, joined the Royal Air Force in 1934. He was stationed in the Middle East before the war, and since then has served in France, including the evacuation from Dunkirk, in England, New Zealand and the Pacific. He shot down six German aircraft during the Battle of France, and received the D.S.O. for outstanding services in the Solomons. APPEAL BOARD REVIEW FIT MEN IN INDUSTRY (0.C.) WHANGAREI, Friday A review of all grade one men, single and married without children, between the ages of 20 and 36, is now being undertaken bv the No. 3 Armed Forces Appeal Board at Whangarei. The preliminary work in this connection has already been done by the staff of the •National Service Department in Whangarei. The question of replacing grade one men held in industry under appeals by men returning from overseas is largely a matter of co-operation between the manpower officer and the board. It is the manpower officer's duty to direct the returning men to jobs and in doing so he will have in mind the replacement by these men of grade one men now held on appeal, but who could be released for service by the substitution of returning servicemen. FAILURE TO REPORT CAFE OWNER FINED £25 "To find that a man who has got a profitable business can get two and ahalf years' grace in order to find a manager or sell out is truly remarkable," said Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., yesterday, when George Vlasic, restaurant proprietor, aged 35 (Mr Haigh), appeared or> a_ charge of failing to report to the drill hall in order to proceed to camp. Defendant pleaded guilty Sergeant Gee, of the Army records department, said that defendant had secured numerous deferments of service on account of his position as proprietor of the Empire Cafe, Customs Street West. When eventually he had been ordered to report to camp, after two and a-half years of deferments, he had failed to do so. It was only after he had been served with a summons that he had presented himself at the drill hall as required. Counsel said that defendant was manager and cook of the Empire Cafe which served between 6000 and 8000 meals a week. He had been granted deferments of service on grounds of hardship and public interest. When called for camp, he was still unable to procure a manager for bis business, and had taken further time of his own accord. "When tJie Army has at last insisted upon him rendering service, be has waited until he was prosecuted before getting into uniform," said the magistrate. A fine of £25 was imposed.