OUTSTANDING SERVICE IN LAST WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26957, 17 December 1948, Page 4

OUTSTANDING SERVICE IN LAST WAR

Colonel N. C. Speight, C.8.E., E.D., M. 8., Ch.B, was born in Dunedin in 1899. He was commissioned in the Otago University Medical Company in 1928.

Colonel Speight sailed for the Middle East with the second echelon and saw service in Greece. He was taken a prisoner of war in the Libyan Desert while commanding the 6th Field Ambulance, but was repatriated in 1942. He continued to serve in the army in New Zealand until April, 1943. when he was appointed assistant director of medical services in the 3rd New Zealand Division in the Pacific. He was with the division during the operations which resulted in the capture of Vella Lavella. the Treasury Islands, and Green Island. Colonel Speight was awarded the C.B.E. in 1945. Lieutenant-colonel E. A. McPhail, D. 5.0., M.C., joined the ranks of the 20th Rifle Battalion on the outbreak of'war in 1939 and was commissioned in time to sail for the Middle East with the second echelon. He saw active service in Greece, winning the Military Cross in November,.. 1941. During" desert fighting in the following year he won the bar to his M.C. Lieu-tenant-colonel McPhail was wounded in action in April, 1943. He later returned to New Zealand, but by February, 1944, he was back in action in Italv. He was mentioned in despatches in September, and in October he was appointed to command the 21st Battalion. He was awarded the D.S.O. in November. 1945. Lieutenant-colonel H. H. Parata. D. 5.0., served with the Otago Regiment before the Second World War, gaining his commission in 1936. He sailed with the first echelon and served with the 27th (Machine Gun) Battalion until he was appointed transport officer. 4th N.Z. Infantry Brigade, in December, 1940. Late in 1941 he was transferred to the New Zealand Armoured Corps and returned to New Zealand. He left again for the Middle East with the Tenth Reinforcements and served with the 19th Armoured Regiment. He was in command of the New Zealand Armoured Corps training depot in 1944 and of the 19th Armoured Regiment from November 6, 1944, to March 17, 1945. when he was transferred to the 18th Armoured Regiment, of which he was commanding officer until May, 1945. Lieutenantcolonel Parata returned to New Zealand in September, 1945, and was posted to the non-mobilised strength of the Ist Otago Battalion. He was awarded the D.S.O. in 1945. Lieutenant-colonel E. T. Kensington joined the territorial force in 1919 and served in the New Zealand Artillery. He was first commissioned in November, 1923, and rose to the rank of captam before being posted to the reserve of officers in July, 1933. In the last war he went overseas with the third echelon and served in the 2nd NZEF from 1940 until his return on furlough in November, 1944. He was mentioned in despatches for his services in Italy. He was brigade major in the 2nd New Zealand Divisional Artillery from June, 1941, to April, 1942, and later served with field and antitank regiments and the 36th Survey Battery, which he commanded for a period. From June to December, 1943, he was commanding officer of the 14th Light Anti-aircraft Regiment. From December, 1943, to April, 1944, he commanded the sth Field Regiment and from April to August, 1944, the 6th Field Regiment.