AWARDS FOR GALLANTRY

Southland Times, Issue 24545, 20 September 1941, Page 6

AWARDS FOR GALLANTRY

decorationsfor N.Z. SOLDIERS TWO OFFICERS RECEIVE D.S.O. (From the Official War Correspondent) v ’ CAIRO 18. Thirty-two immediate awards for gallantry in action in the two Balkan campaigns fought by the N.Z.E.F. were published today. They are as follows: — GREECE Distinguished Service Order.— Major G. J. O. Stewart. Military Cross.— Lieutenant W. F. Liley, 2nd Lieutenant C. T. Mason, 2nd Lieutenant E. A. McPhail. Distinguished Conduct Medal.— Bombardier E. W. Santi, Driver J. A. Snell. Military Medal.—Warrant Officer (second class), A. H. Lockett, Sergeant G. Katene, Corporal J. J. W. King, Corporal J. Tainui, Bombardier G. F. Scoltock, Gunner H. R. Drinkwater, Gunner R. W. Bunton, Gunner T. W. J. Tombleson, Private A. V. Lee, Private J. E. Brock, Private A. H. Todd, Private R. W. Common, Private A. R. Morrison, Private H. E. Struthers, Private M. J. Richardson, Driver R. S. Grant, Driver J. G. Macdonald. CRETE Distinguished Service Order.— Lieutenant-Colonel H. K. Kippenberger. Military Cross.— Captain R. J. Lynch, Captain C. N. Watson. Distinguished Conduct Medal.— Lance-Sergeant V. D. Kirk, Corporal W. T. Weir. Military Medal.—Temporary Warrant Officer (second class) N. C. Tasker, Lance-Sergeant E. H. Elliott, Private T. E. Duncan, Driver M. K. Gibbs. COURAGE AND SKILL Stories of extraordinary courage, coolness and skill lie behind the first list of awards made to New Zealanders who fought in Crete. The deeds which won these awards range from the consistent tactical ability of the commanding officers to individual acts of bravery by the men. Lieutenant-Colonel Kippenberger, who commanded a composite brigade, was awarded the D.S.O. for “complete disregard of danger, energetic aggressive spirit and considerable tactical skill in organizing counter-attacks and repelling determined enemy attacks made under cover of severe enemy air attacks and trench-mortar and machinegun fire. Although suffering from loss of sleep and a sprained ankle, he showed quick appreciation and cool courage in meeting determined enemy attacks on Galatos on May 25 and when our line was practically broken he was almost entirely responsible for checking the enemy advance and establishing a new line in the rear. His work throughout was of the highest order.” Captain Lynch distinguished himself in the same action. As a company commander he maintained his position for six hours, during which time he was twice driven off, but recaptured, a position, on both occasions by skilfully planned and executed counter-attacks. Subsequently he withdrew his company in good order to a rear position, checking the enemy sharply on the way. On May 29 at Skiphio with a weak company he completely held up the enemy advance for five hours. His leadership, power of command and personal example throughout were outstanding, CONSPICUOUS GALLANTRY Captain Watson is commended for outstanding qualities of leadership, tenacity and skill in handling his company and at one stage a whole battalion. His personal example, continuous conspicuous gallantry, devotion to duty, extreme coolness and contempt for danger under heavy sustained fire, and the quick decisions he made on the spot, were an inspiration to his officers and men. At Malemi on May 22 his men, suffering heavy casualties, were forced to evacuate an important line of posts. Despite intense mortar, machine-gun and pom-pom fire Captain Watson and his men, by the skilful use of Tommy guns, drove back the enemy, who was about to penetrate up a covered ravine, and enabled our troops to reoccupy their original positions. Later he led a successful counter-attack with the result that this vital position could be held for a further two days. Brave and brilliant initiative in the thickest of the Crete fighting won an infantry sergeant and a cavalry corporal the immediate award of the D.C.M. The first was cited for exceptional gallantry, coolness and skill; the second for conspicuous gallantry. Lance-Sergeant Kirk was in a leading platoon during the memorable attack on Malemi on May 22 by South Islanders and Maoris. With his section he fought his way forward with continuous engagements over two miles, displaying the utmost resolution and repeatedly rushing and destroying machine-gun posts. Then with an officer he went on a highly dangerous journey through 600 yards of enemyoccupied ground, shooting a German on the way and bringing safely back about 100 men who would otherwise have been cut offs When his company was outflanked at Galatos three days later Lance-Sergeant Kirk organized a party and led a counter-attack with complete success. Forty-four Germans were killed, 11 of them by LanceSergeant Kirk himself. Being separated from his company, he next took his party into the counter-attack made on Galatos by another South Island battalion. After disposing of a large number of the enemy he remained in his position on the outskirts of the town until 5.30 a.m. next morning, when he found all the other troops had withdrawn. Skilfully he led his men out and rejoined his unit. WITHDRAWAL COVERED , Cavalry Corporal Weir was with his unit defending the western boundary of Galatos on May 22 when the enemy made a strong attack and thrust bacx our right flank, exposing the village. At great personal risk Corporal Weir covered the withdrawal with a captured enemy Maxim gun with which he had acquainted himself. His action gave our troops time to organize a counter-at-tack whereby they recaptured the original positions. Later he instructed others in the use of the Maxims, which proved invaluable. The citation says that during the whole of the Crete campaign his devotion to duty, example and initiative were outstanding and an inspiration to others. Warrant Officer Tasker’s award is for conspicuous devotion to duty, courage, initiative and resource of the highest order throughout the campaigns both in Greece and Crete. At Rapsane on April 18, when with a section of guns heavily engaged in beating off advancing enemy tanks, he saw German infantry tenfilading the guns. With a Bren gun he engaged them accurately

from an open position, thus effectively covering the gun teams. With his ammunition expended he was forced to withdraw under heavy fire, but took the rear gun safely back to his battery. As platoon commander of “infantillery” in Crete, his eagerness to join every patrol, his coolness, tactful leadership and encouragement to the men under heavy fire were instrumental at Galatos on May 25 in enabling contact to be broken with the enemy only 150 yards away and an orderly withdrawal to be conducted without ’oss. WOUNDED MAN RESCUED Lance-Sergeant Elliott, of the Engineers, performed an act of outstanding bravery in carrying a wounded man to safety on May 23. He moved over a very exposed area through heavy enemy fire to rescue a sapper who had been wounded while stalking a German post. Unaided he carried the wounded man 50 yards to a covering ridge. The sapper was hit by two more bullets during the rescue. Throughout the actions in Greece and Crete Lance-Sergeant Elliott was cool and daring and an example to his men, says the citation. Courage and initiative were displayed by Private Duncan, who is a Maori, On May 22 he was required to go out and take individual action against two or three parachutists who landed in front of the battalion line and accounted for at least two. The next day at Malemi he volunteered to silence an enemy machine-gun post that was troubling his company. Single-handed he closed with the post and bombed it, killing nine Germans and capturing the gun and ammunition, which subsequently were used against the enemy. Driver Gibbs, like Corporal Weir, Warrant Officer Tasker and LanceSergeant Elliott, gave a shining example of the courage shown on Crete by noninfantrymen who were given infantry jobs. Driver Gibbs is an A.S.C. driver, but he and a comrade became a light machine-gun team. For six days they handled the gun with skill and determination, inflicting a heavy toll on the enemy. Then on May 5 his team mate died. Driver Gibbs kept the gun in action under intense, accurate rifle and machine-gun and mortar fire until ordered to withdraw, but even then he covered his retiring platoon doggedly and effectively and only made his way towards the rear when the enemy forced him back with hand grenades. The citation says he was outstanding for coolness, courage and efficiency and his beneficial influence on his comrades could not be overlooked. He was wounded in the left arm.