FIGHTING IN LIBYA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24790, 15 December 1941, Page 6

FIGHTING IN LIBYA

AWARDS FOR GALLANTRY NEW ZEALANDERS DECORATED THE ACTIONS DESCRIBED (N.Z.E.F. Official War Correspondent) CAIRO. Dec. 13. Seventeen immediate awards for gallantry of New Zealanders in the recent action in the Libyan Desert were announced to-day by headquarters of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. The decorations are:—

Distinguished Service Order. —Major C. H. Sawyers, Artillery. Military Cross. —Lieutenant C. S. Pepper, 'Anti-tank; Lieutenant A. C. Yoeman, Auckland Infantry: Sedondlleutenant C. H. Cathie, Wellington Infantry: Captain D. J. Fountaine, South Island Infantry; Lieutenant G. L. Lee. Machine Gun Battalion; Secondlieutenant A. R. Guthrey, South Island Infantry.

Distinguished Conduct Medal.—Private W. D. Friday, Auckland Infantry; Sergeant H. R. Martin, Wellington Infantry; Sergeant G. MacM. Dodds, South Island Infantry; Private G. H. Goad. Auckland Infantry; Gunner C. J. Winthrop. Artillery; Lance-sergeant R. L, Burke. Anti-tank.

Military Medal.—Sergeant-major P. George, Artillery; Gunner R. Wixon, Anti-tank: Bombardier T. M. Hutchinson, Artillery; Lance-corporal C, Munro, Field Ambulance. Capture of Tanks Describing the action which won Major Sawyers his decoration, the citation says that on November 23, 1941, while in support of a squadron of Royal Tanks, he found' 18 of our own tanks, together with miscellaneous vehicles, in the possession of a party of the enemy. Without hesitation, he called upon his troop and put down a bracket of fire on the group of tanks. Calling for further fire from the troop, he, with his O.P. party, advanced towards the tanks and sprayed them with small arms fire, and proceeded to engage those of the enemy not in the tanks. The action ended with Major Sawyers in possession of all the vehicles and tanks and with about 50 prisoners on his hands. Twelve of the tanks were later driven away. Five days later Major Sawyers was largely instrumental in bringing about the surrehder of a company strongpoint located on an escarpment east of Sidi Rezegh. While manning an O.P. close to this strongpoint, a small concentration from another point landed on the point. Major Sawyers kept the strongpoint under cover of small arms fire and advanced to get a better view. He then noticed a German infantryman who apparently wanted to surrender. Major Sawyers made signs for him to bring the remainder of the garrison and this the infantryman did with the result that 70 prisoners and the strongpoint fell into our hands. Next day, by very good aggressive work in his 0.P., Major Sawyers was largely instrumental in beating off an attack from the direction of Bir Sciverarat. All Black Decorated

Coolness and daring are revealed in the citation of the action which won the All Black, Lieutenant Cyril Stennard Pepper, his Military Cross. On Sunday, November 23, about six miles south of Sidi Rezegh, Lieutenant Pepper was with his troop and twopounder anti-tank' guns when a South African brigade was overrun by enemy tanks. Lieutenant Pepper was attached to the South Island Infantry, and his troop was ordered to a dangerous flank of the battalion. Lieutenant Pepper led his guns into action under intensive hostile machine-gun and mortar fire, and large numbers of hostile tanks were engaged by Lieutenant Pepper’s troop. It is estimated that about 24 were disabled. Through mistaken orders, from the South Africans, the guns retired about 1000 yards, and Lieutenant Pepper collected them and personally led each back into action without a thought of his own safety. He moved from gun to gun, encouraging the gun detachments. This, under heavy hostile fire, was an inspiration to his men to carry on under the most difficult conditions. After nightfallwhen the guns withdrew, Lieutenant Pepper led a small party back to recover one gun which had been damaged. Capture of Blockhouse “ For cool courage", daring leadership in the field on the morning of November 25, while in command of a section of Bren gun carriers,” says the citation covering the decoration of Lieutenant Alfred Charles Yoeman. Ordered to assist in the capture of a blockhouse on a ridge, Lieutenant Yoeman used a bold flank movement under severe machine-gun fire. His section completely dominated and routed the enemy, and captured 150 prisoners. On the evening of November 28, while in command of a Bren carrier platoon of the Auckland Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant Yeoman showed skilful tactical handling of his carriers across an open flank during an attack on his unit’s position at Sidi Rezegh. The attack destroyed the right flank, consisting of two companies, and endangered the remainder of the battalion. In the face of heavy artillery and mortar. fire, and with great disregard for his own personal safety, Lieutenant Yoeman repulsed the enemy and inflicted heavy casualties on them. This action resulted m Lieutenant Yoeman losing his - own Bren gun carrier and being severely wounded. Daring Leadership r

“ Second-lieutenant Charles Harold Cathie distinguished himself by his skill, daring and cool leadership,” says the citation. His platoon directly opposed several machine-gun posts. He quickly rallied his men and led a bayonet charge which resulted in the capture of a considerable number of Germans and equipment. Reorganising, he repeated the action and succeeded in silencing another machine-gun post. Although wounded and unable to use his rifle, he continued to reorganise and direct the operations of his platoon and the actions of a neighbouring unit, which had become scattered. His courage and ability were an inspiration to those around him. In subsequent actions he displayed the same courage and determination. Although still suffering from his wound, he begged to be allowed to remain with his unit.

Brilliant Successes When his company was attacked by seven German tanks, on the Bardia road on November 22, Captain Denver James Fountaine extricated it with small loss from what appeared to be a desperate position. Later the same day he made a brilliantly successful attack with his company, At Bir Cleta on November 23 he led his company with equal dash and spirit in an attack, and at Belhamid on the night of November 25 he led his company to the assault with great gallantry. He had just succeeded to the command of his battalion when he was wounded. Inspired Leadership Lieutenant George Lacy Lee displayed exceptional tactical skill and inspired leadership under fire with complete disregard for his own safety. On November 27 an Auckland infantry battalion had suffered many casualties from, machine-gun and mortar nests south of Belhamid. Lieutenant Lee went forward in the face of heavy fire towards the machine-gun positions and guided our tanks into the teeth of these nests. Then on his own initiative he formed a strongpoint at Bir Scinerat where, with a few troops in support, he defended the eastern flank of the brigade, despite severe wounds in the head, agaihst successive attacks by tanks and infantry until their final withdrawal. Notable Skill and Dash

Second-lieutenant Albert Ronald Guthrey commanded a Bren carrier platoon of a South Island infantry battalion with notable skill and dash on the Bardia road on November 22, and at Bir Cleta the next day. In thq second action his initiative ,in attacking the enemy flank was probably decisive. One of his carriers was disabled by close range fire from a heavy gun. He closed with his own carrier and rescued the crew of the disabled carrier regardless of the heavy fire at close quarters. Inspiring Initiative

For determined leadership in infantry section attacks, inspiring initiative, and continual bravery from November 23, when his company of the Auckland Battalion first went into action, reads the citation dealing with the award of the D.C.M. to Private William Douglas. His actions culminated in a special act of bravery when, as the sole survivor of his company, ho mounted the Bren gun, carrier, and, with complete disregard of the heavy artillery, mortar, and small' arms fire, he directed the machine-gun fire of his carrier into the enemy machine-gun posts. He repeatedly shouted words qf encouragement to the defenders on the open flank. These actions were undoubtedly instrumental in assisting to repulsd an attack which was of such intensity that two companies of a battalion were over-run. A Sergeant’s Bravery » Within half an hour of the opening attack on Hill 175 on November 23 Sergeant < Harry Redfearn Martin’s platoon commander was killed, and he took over command of the platoon in the Wellington Battalion. He remained in command for. the following eight days. In an action on the afternoon of November 23, when his platoon was infilated with heavy machine-gun fire from the left rear and right front and also from tanks, Sergeant Martin, by the skilful use of fire movement, succeeded in pushing home a series of local counter-attacks, and succeeded in neutralising the enemy opposition ip a strong machine-gun position. His leadership, courage and self-sacrifice were an inspiration to the platoon. Conspicuous Gallantry \

Wounded through both arms and both legs, Gunner Colin Joseph Winthrop crawled into ah artillery tractor, drove it to where a shattered artillery gun was located, and collected a load of the personnel and drove them quickly to the rear. After driving about two miles he collapsed and had to be lifted from the tractor.