ORDERS BESTOWED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLV, Issue 22789, 13 January 1944, Page 5

ORDERS BESTOWED

Britain Honours Americans

(Rec. 8.25) CANBERRA. Jan. 12. His Majesty the King has conferred knighthoods on two Americans, Lieu-tenant-Generals R. Eichelberger and G. C. Kenney for their services in the South-west Pacific. Lieut.-General Kenney commands the Allied air forces in this area, while Lieut.-General Eichelberger was commander in the Buna sector during the Papuan campaign. Both have been granted the Order of Knight Commander of the British Empire. As Americans they will not use the title "sir,” but will wear the special ribbon of the Order. Other awards to 37 United States personnel serving in the South-west Pacific have been announced by Lord Gow'rie. The Order of Commander of the British Empire has been awarded to Lieut.-General Vandergrift, commander of the United States Marines in the first Solomons campaign, and Major-General Sutherland, chief of staff to General MacArthur.

He learned of the bestowal of the awards with great pleasure, said Mr Curtin, who emphasised the fact that the awards had been made in recognition of the gallant and distinguished services of United States officers and men in co-operation with the Australian forces.

At Algiers, his Majesty, through General Sir Henry Maitland Wilson, conferred the K.B.E. on General Mark Clark, the C.B. on General G. S. Patton and the K.C.B. on Major-General W. B. Smith, General Eisenhower’s Chief of Staff. Twenty-eight other American servicemen were also decorated.