AWARDS FOR SOLDIERS

Southland Times, Issue 24861, 29 September 1942, Page 4

AWARDS FOR SOLDIERS

Military Medal For Invercargill Man (PA.) WELLINGTON, September 28. The following honours and awards for members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force were announced tonight:— DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER Major John Nesbit Anderson; wife, Mrs C. F. Anderson, Auckland. Major Albert Ernest Lamboum; wife, Mrs E. I. Lamboum, Petone. MILITARY CROSS Major Andrew Edgar Beyer; father, Mr R. Beyer, Yarraville, Australia. 2nd Lieutenant Robert Edgeworth Horrocks; mother, Mrs M. Horrocks, Parnell, Auckland. Lieutenant Leslie Edward McAneny; mother, Mrs E. McAneny, Wellington. Major Hugh Murray Reid; wife, Mrs W. J. Reid, Oamaru. Captain Ronald George Stevens; wife, Mrs A. M. Stevens, Island Bay, Wellington. , _ Lieutenant Reginald Douglas Trounson; Mr V. Trounson, Maropiu, Dargaville (relationship not stated). DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL Corporal Ronald Francis Garmonsway; father, Mr F. Garmons way, Bell s Junction R.D., Taihape. MILITARY MEDAL Sergeant Allan Ernest Branks; wife, Mrs A. A. Branks, Invercargill. Lance-Corporal William John Clark; sister, Mrs R. M. Daniel, Waikanae Beach. Lance-Sergeant Stanley Conway; father, Mr H. Conway, Christchurch. Sergeant Andrew John Duckworth; father, Mr A. Duckworth, Tepuke. Corporal Alan Riddell Hedley; father, Mr A. G. Hedley, Wairoa. Driver Charles Frederick Robinson; wife, Mrs I. W. Robinson, Christchurch. Private James Henry Savage; mother, Mrs C. Hahn, Ahaura, West Coast. MINELAYING FEAT The official war correspondent with the N.Z.E.F. says that 16 immediate awards for gallantry in the New Zealanders’ part in the defence of Egypt are announced. The citations are as follows:— , Under the direction of Major Anderson 4000 mines were rapidly laid at Minoar Qairn on June 27—a vitally protective minefield before the enemy reached the New Zealanders’ forward defence lines. Despite the intensity of the enemy shelling of his parties and the development of attacks, the mines were rapidly laid. Where the shelling was heaviest Major Anderson encouraged his men and he himself fused the mines. One truck-load was exploded by enemy fire, causing many casualties. When mines had to be laid near the burning ammunition truck, Major Anderson, showing complete disregard for his own safety, carried the mines to the area. Just as this work had been completed he moved a wounded man to safety and, still under heavy, accurate shell-fire, continued to direct the work. The skilful handling of an artillery battery won for Major Lamboum his D.S.O. He ordered to take his battery outside the divisional defensive area to harass the enemy’s flank. He quickly deployed the battery and brought effective fire on the enemy. A number of German tanks engaged the battery and attempted an outflanking movement. Major Lamboum skilfully leapfrogged a troop back to a rear position, from which the forward troop was covered by fire and withdrawn. Major Lamboum’s clever manoeuvring extricated the whole battery without loss. His battery put out of action three German tanks and damaged three others. RESOURCE AND INITIATIVE “Throughout the campaign,” says the citation, “Major Lambourn has shown resource and initiative in pushing his observation post well forward beyond the infantry defences, thus bringing effective fire on areas normally in dead ground. His aggressive conduct throughout the campaign has been an inspiration to those under him.” Major Beyer, well known before the war as an Auckland representative fullback, led his company in two successive bayonet and bomb assaults on enemy strong-points in El Mirei depression on the night of July 21. Under heavy machine-gun and tank fire he pressed home the attack, setting a. splendid example to his men. Seriously wounded after the second attack, he refused assistance until the company was reorganized and ready to continue the advance. His award was given for outstanding leadership and devotion to duty. Under the direction of Major Reid, transport, including anti-tank and machine-gun vehicles, was cleverly manoeuvred across a ridge at Ruweisak on the night of July 14. Just before reaching the objective the transport was fired on by tanks and machineguns from close range. Our anti-tank guns were able to open up fire as soon as it was light enough to see. Three enemy tanks were knocked out and the remainder withdrew. GRENADES TOSSED BACK

When a German counter-attack was made later Major Reid was with a small group of his men near brigade headquarters. Under his direction the men kept up a steady fire against the approaching tanks and armoured fighting vehicles. Heavy machine-gun retaliation from enemy armoured cars eventually silenced the fire of our men, who had not dug in in their battle positions. One armoured car came alongside brigade headquarters and hand grenades were thrown into the slit trenches. Major Reid went forward and threw back two Italian grenades and the armoured car moved hurriedly away. Throughout a day of heavy enemy mortar and artillery fire Major Reid showed no regard for his own safety, and his conduct was a fine example to all. Lieutenant McAneny, under heavy mortar and small arms fire, led his machine-gun platoon to exposed positions on a ridge overlooking the enemy during an attack against El Mireir on July 5. New Zealand infantry were engaged by a heavy mortar which was partly concealed from view. With absolute disregard for his own safety, Lieutenant McAneny stood up and laid each gun in turn on the target. He continued to direct the fire from a standing position until wounded. The mortar was silenced. TANK ADVANCE STOPPED Lieutenant Stevens engaged enemy tanks with a two-pounder gun during the withdrawal from El Mireir on July 22. Although previously wounded in a minefield and with sight impaired as a result of broken spectacles, he, with the co-operation of two other guns under his command, stopped an advance of eight to 10 tanks. Making excellent use of the ground, he sited his portion of the defilade to destroy a tank which was leading others. His coolness in the face of heavy odds inspired the men under him and the co-

operation of ali three guns stopped the advance of the enemy tanks. Lieutenant Trounson led a night patrol six miles beyond his unit’s outpost and located four heavy tractor-drawn guns. He and his party rushed one and the Italian crew took refuge under the tractor, where they were bombed and machine-gunned. Under heavy fire, Lieutenant Trounson withdrew the patrol and led it to safety. Throughout he showed courage, skill and determination. COURAGE AND LEADERSHIP 2nd Lieutenant Horrocks has displayed the highest degree of courage and leadership on each occasion on which his unit has been engaged. At Bir Khalda on June 27, when his unit was bombed, he collected and attended the wounded, despite burning ammunition trucks nearby. At El. Mireir on July 4, and again at Reweisak Ridge, his fine example carried his platoon under heavy fire to its objective. Manning a dangerous observation post, 2nd Lieutenant Horrocks showed contempt for personal safety and provided the unit with much valuable information. Lance-Corporal Clark was one of the stretcher-bearers attached to a leading company in an attack made against a strongly fortified position on July 3. On a forward slope 500 yards from the' enemy forward defence lines, and while under intense machine-gun, anti-tank and mortar fire, he conscientiously attended the men as they were wounded. He carried on the work after he had been wounded himself. Driver Robinson, at the risk of his life during a Stuka raid against the , Maori Battalion at Ruweisak on July 9, put out a fire when a bomb burst alongside his blazing ammunition truck. It was loaded with mortars, grenades and small arms. OUTSTANDING Private Savage saved 45 of his comrades, some wounded, when the New Zealanders made the famous break through at Minqar Qaim on the night of June 27. He was a member of a defence platoon at headquarters and controlled the situation when a number of troops standing around his truck were wounded by a shell splinter. He drove them from danger, collected the crew of' an immobilized British tank and showed outstanding coolness in navigating the party to catch up with the convoy two hours later. Sergeant Duckworth, although not used to minelaying, led some of the party which was responsible for the laying of 4000 mines under heavy fire at Minqar Qaim on June 27. He quickly inspired confidence in his gangs and continued to encourage and lead them so that the task was carried out expeditiously. Mines had already been exploded by enemy action, causing casualties, and heavy shelling caused more, but Sergeant Duckworth went about his work calmly and ly-Lance-Sergeant Conway took command of an artillery observation post when his officer became a casualty and continued to direct the guns with deliberation, coolness and effect. No relief could be sent up immediately, but Lance-Sergeant Conway crawled forward from the observation post under heavy fire and, giving directions by telephone,-drove off German tanks and machine-gunners. ACTS OF GALLANTRY Corporal Hedley performed three separate acts of gallantry on three separate days. On the night of June 26 he reassembled and cleared vehicles when the area to which he was driving was heavily bombed. During a further raid on a battalion post he was in charge of six lorries and collected and cleared wounded from the area when, because of the intensity of the enemy fire on Ruweisak Ridge on July 22, all transport was ordered to be withdrawn. Corporal Hedley voluntarily remained with his lorry, transporting casualties to the regimental aid post. Again on July 3 at El Mireir, in the face of heavy anti-tank and mortar fire, Corporal Hedley was continually out among his men, assuring their welfare. ’ THRILLING EXPLOIT From the action which Won for Sergeant Keith Elliott, New Zealand’s fifth V.C. of this war, comes another decoration to a member of his platoon—Corporal Garmonsway (Wellington Battalion), who has been awarded the D.C.M. Corporal Garmonsway was the man to whom a tribute was paid by the new V.C. when he modestly disclaimed his own part in the action, saying: “The corporal was the chap who should have got this.” The story of his exploit is almost as thrilling as that which won for Sergeant Elliott the Empire’s highest military award. The platoon evaded capture by enemy tanks on Ruweisak Ridge on July 15. Corporal Garmonsway led a section of four men in an attack on a machine-gun post for more than 400 yards in the face of intense fire. He and his section captured three machine-guns, one anti-tank rifle, one German and two Italian officers, one German sergeant and about 60 other ranks without casualty to his section. For the remainder of that day Corporal Garmonsway was in command of the remaining 16 men of his platoon. He held a position on Ruweisak Ridge until relieved at night. He served in Greece, Crete and the last Libyan campaign.