TWO ARMY V.C.’S

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 179, 1 August 1940, Page 6

TWO ARMY V.C.’S

HEROIC DEEDS IN FRANCE NEW ZEALANDERS SHAKE R.A.F. AWARDS LONDON, July 30. The first Army Victoria Crosses of this war nave been awarded Captain Harold Marcus Ervine Andrews, East Lancashire Regiment, also LanceCorporal Harry Nichtis, Grenadier Guards. There have been five V.C.’s m this war, one in the Navy and two in the P..A.F. Captain Andrews was in charge ot a IOUO-yards long sector at Dunkirk. His company held on for ten hours in face of heavy German attacks. After this, Caplam Andrews called lo.’ volunteers and held off the Germans from the top of a barn, although bullets were going through the roof. He shot 17 Germans with a rifle and accounted for many more with a Bren gun. He then sent back his wounded and led the remainder of his company a mile to comparative safety. Captain Andrews displayed courage, tenacity, and devotion to duty and magnificently imbued his troops with his own dauntless fighting spirit, the citation says.

Lance-Corporal Nicnols commanded a section at the battle of the Scheldt. Although wounded in an arm by shrapnel he seized a Bren gun and went forward against enemy machineguns, firing from the hip. He silenced three enemy machine-guns. He was wounded in ail four times, but kept on firing till his ammunition was ex hausted. He was subsequently killed in action. Lance-Corporal Nichols’ gallantry compelled the enemy to fail back across the River Scheldt, the citation says.

Tfcore than 80 R.A.F. officers and men have been awarded the D.F.C. or D.F.M., including; D.F.C.: Squadron-Leader E, W. Whitley, Auckland; Pilot-Officer E. 1. Parsons, Christchurch; Pilot-Officer N. H. Svendsen, Pukekohe; PilotOfficer K. W. Triganee, Temuka. D.F.M.: Sergeant R, A. Reece, Christchurch; Sergeant E. P. Williams R.N.Z.A.F., Auckland.