MODEST V.C. WINNER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 227, 26 September 1942, Page 3

MODEST V.C. WINNER

BATTALION’S FIRST AWARD (Official War Correspondent N.Z.E.F.) Cairo, Sept. 23. Cheers rang through a sergeants’ mess in Maadi camp at lunchtime today when it was announced: that Sergeant Keith Elliott had been awarded the Victoria Cross. Auburn-haired and stocky, Elliott was eating his lunch when he was called from the mess by his adjutant. His colonel was waiting outside. The colonel and the adjutant were the first to congratulate him. When he told his history to me, he told it with great reservation,, laying stress on what the men with him had done, and telling nothing of what he himself had done. “Tell them my pals did the job and God looked after us," he said. He has been five times wounded—four times in the action which won him the V.C., and once in Crete. He has been in every action in which the New Zealanders have fought—Greece. Crete, Libya and Egypt. He had just rejoined his battalion on July 13, after recovering from malaria contracted in Syria. Two days later came the New Zealanders’ grim attack on Ruweisat Ridge. Despite the four wounds he received in this attack, he is fit and tanned, and ready to go back to the line. Throughout his career In the Second NZE F. Elliott has been a member of the 22nd Wellington Battalion, commanded for many months by Co'onei L. W. Andrew, a V.C. of the last war. Elliott’s V.C. is the first decoration the 22nd Battalion has won. Andrew used to call them jokingly “the ribbonless battalion.” . One of the youngest of a family of eight he has' two brothers and six sifters Elliott was born on Anzac Day 1916. He was educated at the Lytton Street School, Feilding, and the Feilding Agricultural High School. He played half-back for Feilding High School' in 1933 with the well-known Manawatu forward, Jack . Finlay. When he moved over to Pahiatua, he won his place in the Bush district representative team in 1938 and 1939, touring the South Island with the Ail Black Athol Mahoney's side. Since his heroic exploits at Ruweisat. Ridge, Elliott has been out of the front line. He is now on a weapons training course at the base camp. “THANK THE BOYS FOR WHAT THEY DID" (Recd. 10.5 p.m.) London, Sept. 25. The Dailv Express’ correspondent with tlie Eighth Army reports Sergeant Elliott, V.C., as saying:—“Do not play me up as a hero. Thank the boys for what they did. I could not have done any of it without them. I hardly felt my wounds, although I knew I had been hit because a velocity bullet shakes you. I was not conscious of pain so was able to carry on. One of our boys was knocked over by a grenade. I thought it was all over for him, but he jumped up and waded in again.” Sergeant Elliott's paybook was cut by a splinter from an explosive bullet. LETTER TO HEADMASTER (P.A.) Palmerston North, Sept. 2. In a letter to the headmaster of the Feilding Agricultural High School. Mr. L. J. Wild, Sergeant Elliott told about the Ruweisat Ridge battle. He said that his wounds were healing fast. “I have had a lot to be thankful to God for. The rest of our battalion was taken prisoner, barring a few of us who managed to gel out before the tanks swept us before them. A very exciting few hours followed, but I managed to remain intact. I was later taken to an Indian M.D.S. and an American volunteer ambulance corps took us to Alexandria. After raying a tribute to the Americans, Sergeant Elliott continues: “I was a very proud man when I was told the afternoon before the attack that 1 was to be platoon commander. By act of God I was able to bring 17 of my men out. By their efforts and courage later we were able to continue the light and do a good piece of work, all coming out—onlv two wounded. Mv faith in the men carried me through many tough spots. Thus my proud feelings before the action wore not unfounded.”