FOR GALLANT SERVICE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 125, 27 May 1944, Page 7

FOR GALLANT SERVICE

IMMEDIATE AWARDS TO N.Z. SOLDIERS TWO GET THE AULITARY CROSS, FIVE THE M.M. (P.A.) Wellington, May 24. Advice has been received by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, that the King has approved of the following immediate awards to personnel of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East for gallant and distinguished service in the field:— MIQTAKY CROSS.— Capt. Matarehua Wikiriwhi, son of Mrs. P. Delamere, Cape Runaway. Capt. Kenneth John White, son of Mrs. S. E. White, Wellington. MILITARY MEDAI Pte. George Henry Albert Sutherland, husband, of Mrs. A. Sutherland, Tangaroa, Wairarapa. Pte. Robert Harvey Bidois, brother of Mr. Bidois, Tauranga. L/Bombdr. John Craddock Armstrong, husband of Mrs. F. R. Armstrong, Riveline, Masterton. Pte. Ranginui [ Hoani, son of Mrs. H. Hoani, Okahu- | kura. L/Sgt. Reginald James I-kimnh-l rey Hollis, husband of Mrs. Ake Hollis, Levin. Capt. Wikiriwhi went overseas with the 2nd Echelon as an officer of the Maori Battalion, with which he served throughout all the New Zealand campaigns, until recently when he was invalided home. He was awarded the D.S.O. for services rendered during the Libyan campaign, and was wounded in June, 1941, afid again in February this year. He gained his commission in the field in 1942. Before the war he was employed in the Native Department, Rotorua. He is 26 years of age. Capt. White enlisted in October, 1939. in Britain, where he then was, and went to Egypt in April, 1940. He was commissioned in December the same year. He is serving with the New Zealand Artillery and gained his present rank when appointed to command a troop. He is aged 31. Formerly he was a company secretary and has been twice wounded. Pte. Sutherland went overseas with a reinforcement draft in December, 1942. He is aged 24. Before the war he was employed by a dairy company at Okaiawa, Taranaki. Pte. Bidois has been overseas 10, months. Formerly he was employed! on a dairy farm at Tauranga. He is' aged 22. Bombdr. Armstrong left New Zea-1 land with an early reinforcement i draft. He is 30. He was formerly a farm labourer at Mangarau, Masterton. Pte. Hoani went overseas in March, 1943. He was wounded in February. 1944. and again in March. He is 23. He was formerly employed by the New Zealand Railways, Taumarunui. Sergt. Hollis went to the Middle East with the Ist Echelon. He was wounded in 1942 and again this year. He is aged 38. Formerly he was employed by the New Zealand Railways at Levin.