WAR HONOURS FOR THE FACTORY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 14448, 7 November 1917, Page 9

WAR HONOURS FOR THE FACTORY.

m. 7A AN OLD -MAN'S PATRIOTISiM. FRQM AUSTRALIA TO _>0 HIS BIT ' AT ?4. For services of special merit rendered to the , Empire by men' aud women m manual and other work done for the war 52 awards of . , the Medal of the Girder of the British ' .Empire are announced. The list includes the 'names of eleven women engaged m muriS-ion works. Many splendid cases of presence of mind. and. courage iii dealing with fires m explosive factories are recorded m the list, which also contains some fine instances of devotioii to duty.*' Onef'of'the most notable is that 'of 'Thomas Harper, aged 74, who voyaged from Australia at his own expense to do his part' m the war m the making of shells. For' two years he has put m. an average of 54 hours' pier week^' "and is stated to be actually doing the .wqrk. of two men. He has sometimes fainted at his work, but has refused to go home, stating that he could . not rest while he thought the country wanted shells. A notable deed rewarded is that of Miss Dolly Gladys Vickers, who had her hand burned 1 by the explosion of a fuse on which she was working. She picked it up while still burning, carried it several yards, and threw it outside the building. The list includes the names, of a num--ber of men rewarded "for devotion' to duty m •carryina* out important repairs m the Grand ,Fleet during action." A selection of the awards is given below : Jeannie A,lgar, for presence of mind and good example on the occasion of an explosion at a shell-filling factory. Jack Bide, transport foreman, for repeated acts of courage m dealing with leaks from -drums .of gas: r Waltj-r "Woodward,- for, courageous wo^k m dealing with a'jdaiigerous mixture at a gas 'manufactory. iMiss Maude Bruce, forewoman, for admirable behavior m charge 1 of the woman's brigade at a fire at an ex. plosives factory. "FIR.B ' '-EXTIN&UISHED. Miss Netta Daniel, for presence of mind and courage m going to the scene oi fire m an .explosives factory and taking action to extinguish it. ' Miss Isabella .Dixon, for presence o\ mind and courage m entering a burning room m an explosive factory and playing a hose upon the flames. John Fisher, for great devotion to duty. Although 60 years of age, has worked very long hours m most arduous duties at a works manufacturing fuse sockets. Miss . V. Golding, for devotion to duty m resuming' work after losing a finger and thumb through an accident m the making of detonators. Ralph Goldney, for devotion to duty. Remained at his work at a filling factory, when suffering from mercurial poisoning' due "to. dealing with fulminate of mercury, and although advised by ' the doctor that ' he- would riot recover while he remained m contact with it he continued to •■carry, "'out his duties until other people could be trained to replace him. SEtTIJAiGENARIAN'S EXAMPLE, Thomas Harper, for great devotion to duty. Aged 74 years. Having. retired owing to old age and gone to Australia, when the war started he wrote and' offered his services to his firm m orden to assist. . He came over at his Qipn expense, and for over ttyo years has put" ip ai\ average pf 54 .hQurs per week, an.d has actually done the work of two men. Sometimes he has fainted at his work, arid has then refusod to go. home, stating that he could not rest while he thought hip country wanted shells. "■ . . „. J, Lloyd, for valuable services m suggesting new patterns for targets for the testing of rifles for shooting. Ivon Pugh, for .presence of mind and courage iii carrying into the\open at an explosives factory a bucket containing an explosive mixture which had taken fire arid which threatened loss of life

and damage to property. When it pt- ' ploded he suffered severe personal injuries. Miss Lizzie Robinson, for devotion to duty m a national projectile factory. 'She has not lost any time m a whole year's service at the factory, although the factory has recently beeti working at very high pressure. « j UNDAUNTED. Miss Annie Rose, for devotion to duty.] •Received injuries' at tho factory which j resulted m the loss of two fingers of her left hand. She returned, and at her own request was employed again on similar work. Miss Mary Williams, far intelligence-, and courage m securing the arrest' of a man who had obtained entrance io a filling factory, under, suspicious circumstances. „' „...',: .„ .