GALLANTRY IN FIELD

Southland Times, Issue 25358, 9 May 1944, Page 5

GALLANTRY IN FIELD

AWARDS FOR N.Z.E.F. PERSONNEL (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 8. The King has approved the following awards to 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force personnel in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in the field:— BAR TO D.S.O. Stott, Captain Donald John, D. 5.0.; Birkenhead. D.C.M. Morton, 2nd Lieutenant Robert McDonald; Dargaville. MILITARY MEDAL Redpath, Sergeant John Alexander, D.C.M.; Christchurch. Captain Stott,- who is 28 years old, left New Zealand with the Ist Echelon. In October, 1941, he was presumed to be a prisoner of war, having been missing for some months, but in December of the same year he was reported safe at a 2nd N.Z.E.F. base camp. He was awarded the D.S.O. in August last. Before the war he was a rotary machinist with The New Zealand Herald. Before the war a clerk- employed by the Post and Telegraph Department at Whakapora, 2nd Lieutenant Morton left New Zealand with the Ist Echelon. He was taken prisoner in July 1941, but in December was safe with the 2nd N.Z.E.F. He was reported wounded in Octotfer 1942. He is 25 years old. Sergeant Redpath, who before the war was a company manager in Wellington for Westland Developments Ltd., left New Zealand in August 1940. He had been posted missing twice, but in both cases was later reported to be safe at a 2nd N.Z.E.F. base camp. In March 1942 he was awarded the D.C.M.

PILOT’S SKILL AND DARING

Award Of Distinguished Flying Cross

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 8. Successful bombing attacks on targets in Germany and occupied Europe have won for Flying Officer John Milward Mee, formerly of Dunedin, the award of the D.F.C. Flying Officer Mee, who is a son of Mr J. Mee, of Lauder, Central Otago, was recently reported missing on air operations. Flying Officer Mee has taken part in many attacks on major targets in enemy territory, invariably exhibiting the utmost determination, states the citation. In December 1943 he was detailed to attack Berlin, and before releasing his bombs he was attacked by an enemy fighter. Severe damage which made the turrets, compass and inter-communica-tion system unserviceable was inflicted on his aircraft, but this did not deter him from pressing home the attack and bombing his target. After leaving the target area another fighter attack developed, but aided by skilful directions given by the gunners, Flying Officer Mee was able to avoid further damage and flew home to make a successful landing at his base. His courage and devotion to duty have been outsanding at all times. Bom in Dunedin, Flying Officer Mee was a student at the Mining School of Otago when he joined the R.N.Z.A.F. 1940.' He gained his blue for Rugby and was also interested in cricket, tennis and boxing.