SOME BATTLE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 884, 9 December 1916, Page 10

SOME BATTLE.

NEW ZEALANDERS' PART.

COMMANDER'S HIGH PRAISE

GALLANT WORK AT FLERS.

Press Association

WELLINGTON, December 8.

In New Zealand Expeditionary Force Orders, dated London, October 10, 1916, Lieutenant-Gencral Sir Alexander Godley (General Officer Commanding) publishes the following messages which were received by the New Zealand Division as a result of the part it took in the fighting on the Sonime. The General Officer Commanding adds his most cordial congratulations to all ranks of the division for the success which they achieved, and states that he believes that no division of the armies in France has had a harder task or has been in the line for a longer continuous period, and he is confident that the people of the Dominion •will be proud of what has been achieved by their soldiers. From the Second Army.

Many congratulations on your bril-j liant success from commander and! stall' of the Second Army. From the Fourth Army Commander.; Please convey to all ranks of the New Zealand Division my congratu-j laiions and thanks for their success-! ful attacks on September 15 and 16.! They showed fine lighting spirit and admirable energy and dash. From the 13ih Corps Commander, i The Corps Commander has great pleasure in forwarding above, and desires to add his own appreciation of their good work. From ihe 3rd Corps Commander. The Lieutenant-General commanding the Third Corps has requested the Corps Commander to convey to the New Zealand Division his appreciation of the good work done by them on the right of the 3rd Corps, i and of the assistance rendered by them to the 3rd Corps during the I last few days.

From the Fourth Army Commander. Please congratulate the New Zealand Division from me on their excellent work in the Flcrs line and Drop Alley. They deserve every credit for their gallantry and perseverance.

From the 15th Corps Commander. The Corps Commander congratuales General Sir A. H. Russell and

le New Zealand Division on the suc-

cess gained last night (20th and 21st inst.) by the 2ndßattalion of the Canterbury Regiment. Repeated attacks renewed and delivered with such energy and determination speak highly of the fine fighting qualities displayed by all ranks. The Corps Commander particularly desires "to express to Lieutenant-Colonel Stewart his high appreciation of the sounds-conception of the plan and to Captain Siarnes his admiration of his gallantry and courageous leading. A letter from the Chief of the Genera! Staff and the Commander of the Fourth Army says.

A copy of telegram sent to-day from the Commander-in-Chief to the New Zealand Government is forwarded herewith for your informa'tion and communication to the New Zealand Division. The Commander-in-Chief desires to add his warm congratulations to the Division on the splendid record they have achieved. The telegram from the Commander-in-Chief referred to above reads as follows.

The New Zealand Division has fought with great gallantry in the Soinme battle for 23 consecutive days, carrying out with complete success every task set and always doing even more than was asked of it. The Division has won universal confidence and admiration. No praise can be too high for such troops. , A letter from the Fourth Army Commander to the 15th Corps Commander says. ;

3'he Army Commander desires you to convey to the New Zealand Division his congratulations on the welldeserved praise they have received from the Commander-in-Chief and his admiration of their gallantry and success.

The letter from the 15th Corps Commander to the New Zealand Division says.

I have much pleasure in forwarding lo ybu a copy of the telegram addressed by the Commander-in-Chief to the Government of New Zealand and his remarks that are attached, together with those of the Army Commander.

GALLANTRY REWARDED

RECIPIENTS OF HONOURS. Pre.ss Association. WELLINGTON, December 8. A large number of honours and awards granted to New Zealand officers and men are published in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force orders dated London, October 11 and 18. The list includes a number of Russian and Serbian decorations. RUSSIAN DECORATIONS.

The General Odicer Commanding-in-Chief, Sir Douglas Haig, under authority granted by his Majesty the King, has awarded the following Russian decorations to New Zealand officers:—

Order of St. Stanislaus, third class —Lieutenant-Colonel William Henry Cunningham, commanding 2nd Battalion, Wellington Regiment. Medal of St. George, second class—--25/239 Sergeant Robert Simmers, 3rd Battalion, 3rd N.Z. (Rifles) Brigade, aiid 6/15 Sergeant Stanley George Blister, Ist Battalion," Canterbury Regiment. Medal of St. George, third class—--8/3057 Private Alexander McLeod Kennedy, 2nd Battalion, Otago Regiment. SERBIAN AWARDS. His Majesty the King of Serbia has, with the approval of his Majesty the King, bestowed the following decoralions on the undermentioned officers and men of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force or who have i served or arc now serving in Egypt lor at Salonica, in recognition of

their distinguished service during the campaign:— White Eagle, second class—MajorGeneral (temporary Lieutenant-Gen-eral) Sir Alexander John Godlev, ■ K.G.8., K.C.M.G. White Eagle, third class—Colonel j (temporary Brigadier-General) Edward Walter Clervaux Chaytor, C.8., | New Zealand Military Forces.

White Eagle, fifth class—Captain Alan Standisb Wilder, Wellington Mounted Rides Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force. Gold Medal—7/1411 Trooper Arthur Scrimgeour, Canterbury Mounted Rillcs Regiment. BRITISH DECORATIONS.

The Distinguished Conduct Medal ; has been awarded to 7/1030 Sergeant C. 11. Bremner, Canterbury Mounted ! Hi ties.

Military Medals have been awarded

to:- i 11/1561 Sapper J. E. Hollywood,! New Zealand Mounted Signal Troop. 2/1684 Sergeant A. 11. Vial, 9th Bat-' lalion, 2nd Brigade N.Z.F.A. 2/178 Sergeant R. M. Blackwell, Ist Batterv, Ist Brigade, N.Z.F.A. 1/243 Acting-Corporal H. I\ C. I Davies, 13th Batterv, 3rd Brigade, i N.Z.F.A. 2/131)3 Gunner F. S. Rilcv, sth Bat- j lery, 2nd Brigade, N.Z.F.A. 4/47 a Sergeant J. Wobdhall, Ist Field Company N.Z. Engineers. The Military Cross has been conferred on Captain R. G. S. Orbell, N.Z.M.G, attached to the Canterbury Mounted Hides. Under authority granted by his! Majesty the King the General Officer I Commanding-in-Chief (Sir Douglas j Haig) has made the following awards ; for gallantry in the field: —■ Distinguished Service Order—Captain F. Starnes, 2nd Battalion of the Canterbury Regiment. Military Cross—Lieutenant F. M. Turner, 13th Batterv, 3rd Brigade, I N.Z.F.A.

Distinguished Conduct Medal— | 2/1452 Bombardier IV. M'Quecn, 12th I Battery, 3rd Brigade, N.Z.F.A. I The Corps Commander, under au-1 thority delegated to him, has made the following awards for acts of gal- ! lantry in the field: — Bar to Military Medal—2s/239 Serjgeant Robert Simmers, 3rd Battalion, I 13rd N.Z. (Rifles) Brigade. Military Medal 24/144 Sergeant N. lE. Fitzgerald, 2nd Battalion, 3rd N.Z.! I (Rifles) Brigade. 23/126 LanceCorpora] F. N. Fletcher, Ist Bat-! talion, 3rd N.Z. (Rifles) Brigade.! 121/132 Rifleman 11. Cowers, 2nd BatI talion, 3rd N.Z. (Rifles) Brigade; 1 2/654 Acting-Bombardier T. Adams, ! list Brigade, N.Z.F.A. 4/843 Sergeant E. Smith, 2nd Field Company, N.Z. Engineers; 4/740 Corporal C. j 11. Green, 2nd Field Company, N.Z.E. 4/1709 Sapper W. F. Finkham, 4/508 ! Sergeant A. F. Ellis', 9/1383 Sapper J. I Gordon, 4/406 Sergeant L. W. Marty, I 14/488 Corporal L. C. Michaels, 4/2115 ! Sapper W. M'Quillan, 4/462 Sergeant L. Moritzson, 4/1809 Sapper W. J. Kingham, all of the Divisional Signal Corps. 23/677 Sergeant R. T. Caldwell, Ist! Battalion; 237968 Sergeant A. R.i Blackmail, Ist Battalion; 23/1345 Rifleman W. V. Chambers, Ist Battalion; 24/1323 Lancc-Corporal J. W. Voyle, 2nd Battalion; 29/472 Rifleman N. Z. Ingpen, 2nd Battalion;! 25/614 Corporal D. Duthie, 3rd Bat-' talion; 5/1080 Rifleman J. A. B. Har-j wood, 3rd Battalion. 24/1850 Rifleman N. Warren, 4th [ i Battalion. 26/248 Rifleman J. P. Quinn, 4th Battalion, and j 26/1209 Rifleman W. C. Campbell, 4th Battalion, of the 3rd New Zealand (Rifles) Brigade. ; 26/93 Sergeant C. V. Cinchetto. 23/686 Corporal G. R. Booth. 23/760 Private L. V. Gibbon, of the 3rd New Zealand Machine-gun Com-! panv. 12/2926 Sergeant S. Rice, 2nd Bat-} talion; 12/2711 Sergeant W. B. Gilmore, 2nd Battalion; and 12/1911 Corporal C. R. Carter, 2nd Battalion of.the Auckland Regiment. 6/3778 Lance-Corporal C. J. Manning, 6/1825 Private D. W. Currv, 6/2034 Private H. Anderson, 6/3821 Private S. K. Osborne, 6/2651 Private A. Hammill, 11/731 Private J. D, Ross, of the 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment. 23/760 Private R. A. Rcston, and 9/77 Sergeant J.' Rodgers, of the 2nd Battalion, Otago Regiment. 24/1388 Private F. C. Harris,! 24/1454 Private N. Orr, 19/3638 Private E. Lymer, and 11/1271 Private S. T. Dibble, of the 2nd Rat talion, We'iington Regiment. I 10/2733 Corporal H. J. Pallison and 6/515 Lancc-Corporal G. Woodhead, of the 2nd New Zealand Machine Gun Company. 4/1837 Sapper C. H. Raxworthy, of the New Zealand Divisional Signal Company. | The General Officer Commanding-j j in-Chief has under the authorityl j granted the Military Cross to the fol-| i lowing;—Second-Lieutenant A. 11. j Preston, 3rd New Zealand Machine I Gun Company. Second-Lieutenant N. L. Mackay, Ist Battalion; Second-Lieutenant A. L. Martin, 2nd Battalion; and Lieutenant R. J. Saxon, 4th Battalion of the 3rd New Zealand (Rifles) Brigade. His Majesty the King has been I pleased to award the Military Medal I for bravery in the field to the following (London "Gazette,*' October 11*1916): Otago Mounted Rifles: 9/108 Private S. A. Aitken. New Zealand Field Artillery: 2/209 ! Gunner YY. J. Brown, 2/191 Sergeant A. J. Casbrook, 3/392 Gunner R. I. i Fleming, 2/597 Sergeant YV. J. Hicks, ! 2/332 Bombardier H. P. Mole, 2/930 . I Gunner K. R. Rigbv, 2/622 Gunner ' \V. C. Rummer, 2/612 Sergeant Ft. F. Wilson. , N.Z. Engineers: 4/87 a Corporal T. Atkinson, 4/4! a Sergeant H. A. Foole, ,4/881 Company Sergeant-Major J. J. j Moore, 4/430 Corporal P. G. Pearce, . 1 4/832 Lance-Corporal W. J. Riddell, IJ4/22a Companv Sergeant-Major D. .Ross, 7/4141 Corporal S. R. Sharp, • 4/152 Corporal G. Williamson. .! Auckland Regiment: 12/914 Sergeant P. E. Calaine, 12/1135 Sergeant ! D. Davidson, 12/104 Sergeant E. V. i Cox, 12/116 Corporal 11. 11. Gouldern, . 112/1699 Private C. Lcwin. Canterbury Regiment: 6/933 Sergeant W. F. Brothers, 6/1490 Private jT. Coles, 6/836 Lancc-Corporal R. 11. : Kembcr, 6/524 Private 11. Page, 6/118 • Quartermaster-Sergeant H. A. Peri kins, 6/539 Quartermaster-Sergeant • D. C. Scott, 6/1131 Private A. F. ! | Thomson. t Of ago Regiment: 8/987 Private J. .'IK, H, Burrows, 8/586 Private J. H.

Hamilton, 8/259 Corporal J. W. Murray, 8/717 Sergeant C. G. Wilson Wellington Regiment: 10/<5Ud Private C. AY. Connell, 10/793 Corporal H. R. Johnson, 10/808 Sergeant C. B. Lepper, 10/1051 Sergeant A. D. Price, 10/151 Corporal G. H. Roach, 10/766 Company Sergeant-Major R. Wood (now second-lieutenant), 10/1/11 Private R. F. Wright. N.Z. Pioneer Battalion: lb/134 Sergeant R. Angel, 16/389 Sergeant W. R. Bennett, 16/212 Corporal R. H. Flutev, 16/405 Corporal R. Otene, 10/0.50 Private H. Rawhiii, 16/457 Sergeant T. Rotoatara, 16/590 Corporal T. P. Sidney, 3/160 Private F. Barber, 3/233' Private T. Biggar, 3/302 Private R. A. Church, 3/96 Private W. B. Cooke, 3/255 Private B. Hartman, 3/146 Private G. L. Purdie, 3/280 Private W. Ralston, 3/229 Private A. Wilson.

The Corps Commander, under authority delegated to him, has awarded the Military Medal to the following:— 2/1834 Driver P. Durward. 2/1723 Driver C. Entwistle and Driver H. Sheerfin, of the 13th Battery, 3rd Brigade, N.Z.F.A. 2/1044 Sergeant J. Martin, 4th Battery, 3rd Brigade, N.Z.F.A.