LOYALTY MEDALS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 206, 1 September 1943, Page 5

LOYALTY MEDALS

PRESENTED TO NEW GUINEA NATIVES (Special Australian Corre u pondent—N.Z.P.A.) Recd. 7.25 p.m. Sydney, Aug. 31. Awards of the Loyalty Medal were made to three New Guinea natives for outstanding bravery and devotion to duty. A high Army officer made the presentation before a large number of natives. Thp citations were read in “pidgin” English and then translated into the Motuan dialect. The audience sang “God Save the King” in English. One of the recipients, Buka, was decorated for remarkable work in operation areas. When enemy bombers attacked the area in which he was supervising the work of a telephone line repair gang he dissuaded the natives from deserting and induced them to finish the job. Later was supervising a large group of natives building a landing-ground. Enemy planes again attacked but he calmed th° frightened natives and conducted them to shelter. Buka was wounded in both legs. Kakei. another Loyalty Medal recipient. kept close watch on Japanese activities in a New Guinea district and the information he gained was of great value in preparing a successful raid by Australian troops. Sanasan received his modal for devotion in assisting the return to the New Guinea Administration of its vessel Nereus, which was in the Kavieng area when the Japanese landed there. All the native members of the crew deserted except Sanasan. who remained on the ship until it reached Australia, once taking the wheel for 39 hours without relief. Another native. Sirip, was recommended a high decoration for having collected valuable info-mat ion. Ho was captured by the Japanese but after ten days escaped, carrying off rifles and ammunition. The Japanese put a price on his head.