MEDAL BUNGLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 213, 8 September 1945, Page 7

MEDAL BUNGLE

THE AWARD OF STARS PACIFIC ANOMALIES A New Zealander could fight the Japanese on Vella Lavella, Treasury Island or Green Island and receive neither medal nor ribbon in acknowledgment of his activity against the enemy, says the N.Z. Herald. But if in the course of any of the operations mentioned the same NewZealander were evacuated with boils on the neck he will receive the 1939-45 Star and the Pacific Star. He would also receive the stars if he were fortunate enough to receive an honour, decoration, mention in despatches or commendation for brave service. These are rulings from a New Zealand Army Instruction on the 193945 Star, Pacific Star, Italy Star and Defence Medal issued in advance of a special Army Order to be published at some future date. The rulings induced a group of officers who served in the Pacific to describe the instruction as “the most absurd thing that has yet come out from an army headquarters.” LACK OF ADEQUATE INFORMATION. The instruction follows the British Whie Paper on Campaign Stars and the defence Medal. It was contended in Auckland that had the Imperial committee which framed the conditions for the awards of the stars and Defence Medal been given more accurate information concerning the fighting in the Solomons, it would not have consented to so many anomalies. Some of these anomalies are set out below.

Soldier A fought at Vella Lavella and did well in his tasks. On account of his age he was returned to New Zealand when the fighting was over. As he did not have six months’ service in an operational area, was not mentioned in despatches, did not receive an honour and was not wounded or evacuated through sickness he is not entitled to the 1939-45 Star, the Pacific Star or the Defence Medal. He receives nothing for his overseas service. OTHER INSTANCES QUOTED Soldier A’s companion, however. saxV 1 exactly the same service, but was fortunate enough to be mentioned in despatches. This automaticallly qualified him for the 1939-45 Star and the Pacific Star. A second companion, Soldier C, had slightly less contact with the Japanese. His service was cut short by an untimely attack of boils. Because he was sent out ill from the field he also became entitled automatically to the two stars.

In another case a soldier served for 11 months in New Caledonia and five months in the Solomons, including the operations on Green Island. As .his service in a combat area was less than six months he is eligible only for the Defence Medal. In contrast a member of the Ordnance Department qualified for the Defence Medal by 12 months’ service in Fiji. He was transferred to Guadalcanal' after all the Janane.se had been rounded up and the fighting had moved further north. Nevertheless, Guadalcanal’ was officially a combat area and his six months’ service there gave him the two stars. THE POSITION OF NURSES As a further contrast, New Zealand sisters of the Army Nursing Service were sent to Guadalcanal' to staff the casualty clearing station. The island was still officially in the combat area and at that particular time there was a little Japanese bombing. Il was only with reluctance that Admiral Halsey constcnted to their being sent to the island, while New Zealand doctors ruled that for the sake of the health of the sisters they must nut bo allowed to stay longer than six months. Compliance with this order has deprived them of the stars.

The tank squadron group was sent to Guadalcanal' about September, 1943. It saw no fighting, but its members are entitled to the stars. The field bakery was rerouted from New Caledonia to the New Hebrides to assist the Americans. It was often bombed, but its personal do not qualify for the star as Iho New Hebrides is outside the combat area defined bv (he instruction. II should be noted that, the American definition of the South Pacific combat area included New Caledonia for a long time after the Third New Zealand Division arrived there.

It was stated that the examnles quoted are typical of lhe anomalies created by the instruction. Mention was made that in the last war the General Service Medal was awarded to all men who le r l. New Zealand on active service whether they saw fighting or not. The men who went to Samoa in 1914 received the 1914 Star and the General Service and Victory Medals.