GALLANT NEW ZEALANDERS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 229, 29 September 1942, Page 5

GALLANT NEW ZEALANDERS

HONOURS AND AWARDS DEEDS IN DEFENCE OF EGYPT (P.A.) Wellington, Sept. 28. The following list of honours and awards for members of the 2nd. New Zealand Expeditionary Force was announced to-night:—• Distinguished Service Order Major John Nesbit Anderson. Mrs. C. F. Anderson, Auckland (w.) Major Albert Ernest Lambourn. Mrs. E. I. Lambourn, Petone (w.) Military Cross Major Andrew Edgar Beyer. Mr. R. Beyer, Yarraville, Australia (f.) 2nd.-Lieut. Robert Edgeworth Hor- * rocks. Mrs. M. Horrocks, Parnell, Auckland (m.) Lieut. Lesiie Edward McAneny. Mrs. E. McAneny, Wellington (m.) Major Hugh Murray Reid. Mrs. W. J. Reid, Oamaru (w.) Captain Ronald George Stevens. Mrs. A. M. Stevens, Island Bay, Wellington (w.) Lieut. Reginald Douglas Trounson. Mr. V. Trounson, Maropiu, Dargaville (relationship not stated). Distinguished Conduct Medal Corp. Ronald Francis Garmonsway. Mr. F. Garmonsway, Bell’s Junction, R.D., Taihape (f.) Military Medal Sergt. Allan Ernest Branks. Mrs. A. ’A. Branks, Invercargill (w.) Lance-Corp. William John Clark. Mrs. R. M. Daniel, Waikanae Bead (s.) Lance-Sergt. Stanley Conway. Mr. H. Conway, Christchurch (f.) Sergt. Andrew John Duckworth. Mr. A. Duckworth. Te Puke (f.) Corp. Alan Riddell Hedley. Mr. A. G. Hedley, Wairoa (f.) Dvr. Charles Frederick Robinson. Mrs. I. W. Robinson, Riccarton, Christchurch (w.) Pte. James Henry Savage. Mrs. C. Hahn, Ahaura, West Coast (m.) CITATIONS OF AWARDS (Official War Correspondent N.Z.E.F.) Cairo, Sept. 26. Sixteen immediate awards for gallantry on New Zealanders’ part in the defence of Egypt were announced today. The citations are as follows: Under the direction of Major Anderson 4000 mines were rapidly laid at Minqar Qaim on /une 27—a vitally protective minefield before the enemy reached the New Zealanders’ forward defence lines. Despite intensity of the enemy shelling of his parties and the development of the attack the mines were rapidly laid. While the shelling was heaviest Major Anderson encouraged his men. and he himself fused the mines. One truck-load was exploded by enemy fire, causing many casualties. When mines had to be laid near the burning ammunition truck, showing complete disregard of his own safety, Major Anderson carried the mines to the area. Just as this work had been completed he moved a wounded man to safety and, still under heavy and accurate shelllire. continued to direct the work. Skilful handling of an artillery battery won for Major Lambourn his D.S.O. He was ordered to take his battery outside the divisional defensive area to harass the enemy’s flank. He quickly deployed the battery and brought effective fire on the enemy. A number of German tanks engaged the battery and attempted an outflanking movement. Major Lambourn skilfully leap-frogged a troop back to a rear position, from which the forward troop was covered by fire and withdrawn. Major Lambourn’s clever manoeuvring extricated the whole battery without loss. His battery pul out of action three German tanks and damaged three others. Throughout the campaign, says the citation, Major Lambourn had shown resource and initiative in pushing his observation post well forward beyond the infantry defences, thus bringing effective tire on areas normally in dead ground. His aggressive conduct throughout the campaign has been an inspiration to those under him. Former Auckland Rep. Major Beyer, well-known before the war as an Auckland representative lull-back, led his company in two successive bayonet and bomb assaults on enemy strong points in the El Mirqir depression on the night of July 21. Under heavy machine-gun and tank lire he pressed home the attack, setting a splendid example to his men. Seriously wounded after the second attack, he refused assistance until the company was reorganised and ready to continue its advance. His award was given for outstanding leadership and devotion to duty. Under the direction of Major Reid, transport, including anti-tank and machine-gun vehicles, were cleverly manoeuvred across the ridge at Ruweisat on the night of July 14. Just before reaching the objective the transport was fired on by tanks and machine-guns from close range. Our anti-tank guns were able to open., up fire as soon as it was light enough to see. Three enemy tanks were knocked out and the remainder withdrew. When a German counter-at-i tack was made later Major Reid was with a small group of his men near brigade headquarters. Under his direction the men kept up a steady fire against approaching tanks and armoured fighting vehicles. Heavy machine-gun retaliation from the enemy armoured cars eventually silenced the fire of our men, who were not dug in battle positions. One armoured car came alongside brigade headquarters and hand grenades and grenades were thrown into the slit trenches. Major Reid went forward and threw back two Italian grenades and the armoured car moved hurriedly away. Throughout the day, under heavy enemy mortar and artillery lire, Major Reid showed no regard for his own safety and his conduct was a line example to all. Lieut. McAneny, under heavy mortar and small arms fire, led his machine-gun platoon to exposed positions on a ridee overlooking the enemy during the attack against El ; Mireir on July 5. New Zealand in- 1 fantry were engaged by a heavy mor- ' tar, which was partly concealed from | view. With absolute disregard of his i

own safety Lieut. McAneny stood up and laid each gun in turn on the target. He continued to direct the fire from a standing position until wounded. The mortar was silenced. Lieut. Stevens engaged enemy tanks with a two-pounder gun during the withdrawal from El Mireir on July 22. Although previously wounded in a minefield and with his sight impaired as a result of broken spectacles, he, with the co-operation of two other guns under his command, stopped the advance of eight to ten tanks. Making excellent use of the ground, he sited his portion of the defilade to destroy a tank which was leading the others. His coolness in face of heavy odds inspired the men under him, and the co-operation of all three guns stopped the advance of the enemy tanks. Lieut. Trounson led a night patrol six miles beyond his unit outpost and located four heavy tractor-drawn guns. He and his party rushed one and the Italian crew took refuge under the tractor, where they were bombed and machine-gunned. Under heavy fire Lieut. Trounson withdrew the patrol and led it to safety. Throughout he showed courage, skill and determination. Courage and Leadership. Second-Lieut. Horrocks has displayed the highest degree of courage and leadership on each occasion on which his unit has been engaged. At Bir Khaida on June 27, when his unit was bombed, he collected and attended wounded, despite burning ammunition trucks nearby. At El Mireir on July 4, and again at Ruweisat Ridge, his fine example carried his platoon under heavy fire to the objective. Manning a danegrous observation post Lieut. Horrocks showed contempt for his personal safety and provided his unit with much valuable information.

Sargeant Branks, in charge of stretcher-bearers, took a truck up and down the batallion axis of advance in face of heavy machine-gun and mortar fire on the night of July 21. He was largely responsible for the evacuation of 64 wounded men. His coolness, courage and tireless energy were an inspiring example to the remainder of the stretcher-bearers.

LanSe-Corporal Clark was one of the stretcher-bearers attached to a leading company in an attack mad© against a strongly-fortified position on July 3. On a forward slope 500 yards from the enemy forward defence lines and while under intense machine-gun, anti-tank and mortar fire, he conscientiously attended men as they were wounded. He carried on the work after he had been wounded himself. Driver Risks Life.

Driver Robinson, at the risk of his life, during a stuka raid against the Maori Battalion at Ruweisat on July 9, put out a fire when a bomb burst alongside his blazing ammunition truck. It was loaded with mortars, grenades and small arms. Private Savage saved 45 of his comrades, some of whom were wounded, when the New Zealanders made their famous break through at Minqar Qaim on the night of June 27. Private Savage was a member of the defence platoon at. headquarters and controlled the situation when a nunber of troops standing around his truck were wounded by a shell splinter. He drove them from danger, collected the crew of an Immobilised British tank, and showed outstanding coolness in navigating the party to catch up with the convoy two' hours later.

Sergeant Duckworth, although not used to mine-laying, led some of a party which was responsible for laymg 4000 mines under heavy fire at Minqar Qaim on June 27. He quickly inspired confidence in his gangs and continued to encourage and lead them so that the task was carried out expeditiously. Mines had already been exploded by enemy action, causing casualties, and heavy shelling caused more, but Sergeant Duckworth went about his work calmly and courageously. Lance-Sergeant Conway took com-* mand of an artillery observation post when his officer became a casualty, and continued to shoot the guns with deliberation, coolness and effect. No relief could be sent up immediately. but Sergeant Conwav crawled forward from an observation post, under heavy fire and, giving directions by telephone, drove off German tanks and machine-guns. Corporal Hedley performed three separate acts of gallantry on three separate days. On the night of June 26 he reassembled and cleared vehicles when the area to which he was driving was heavily bombed. During a further raid on the battalion post he was in charge of six lorries and collected and cleared wounded from the area. When, because of the intensity of en?mv fire on Ruweisat Ridge on July 22. all transport was ordered to be withdrawn. Cornoral Hedley voluntarily remained with his lorrv, transporting casualties 10 the regimental aid post. Again on July 3, at El Mireir, in fac° of heaw anti-tank and mortar fire. Corporal Hedley was continually out among his men assuring their welfare. Taihape Corporal’s D.C.M. From the action which won for Sergeant Keith Elliott, New Zealand’s fifth V.C. in this war, comes another decoration to a member of his platoon --Corporal R. F. Garmonsway, Wellington Battalion, who has been awarded the D.C.M. Corporal Garmonsway was the man to whom tribute was paid by the new V.C. when he modestly declared his own part in the action, saying: “The corporal was the chap who should have got this.” The story of his exploit is almost as thrilling as that which won for Sergeant Elliott the Empire’s highest military award. The platoon evaded capture by enemy tanks on Ruweisat Ridge on July 15. Corporal Garmonsway led a section of our men in an attack on a machine-gun post over 400 yards in face of intense fire. He and his section captured three machine-guns, one anti-tank rifl°, on? German and two Italian officers, one German sergeant and about 60 other ranks without a casualty to his section. For the remainder of that day Corporal Garmonswa” was commanding the remaining 16 men of his nlatoon. H? held a position on Ruweisat Ridge until relieved at night. He served in Greece and Crete and in the last Libyan campaign.