U.S. DECORATIONS BESTOWED AT SPECIAL CEREMONY

Wanganui Chronicle, 7 October 1946, Page 4

U.S. DECORATIONS BESTOWED AT SPECIAL CEREMONY

(P.A.) Wellington, Oct. 6. Seventeen United States decorations awarded to members of the New Zealand armed*services for outstanding service in the war, were bestowed on the recipients by the American Minister in New Zealand, Mr. Avra M. Warren, in a ceremony at his slimmer residence, “Fernside,” the former Elgar home at Featherston, Wairarapa, to-day. Rain marred the ceremony, causing a transfer of the actual investiture from the spacious lawn to the drawing room of the residence, which, though large, was unable to accommodate the gathering. The recipients were:—

Legion of Merit, Degree of Commander: —Lieut.-General Sir Edward Puttick and Major--General Peter Harvey Bell.

Legion of Merit, Degree of Officer: Brigadier Henry Esau Avery; Brigadier Graham Beresford Parkinson; Lieut.-Colonel Richard Lewis Hutchens; Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred John Coutts; Lieut. Colonel Maddon Vividan Donald. Silver Star: Lieut.-Colonel Donald G. Grant.

Distinguished Flying Cross: Flying Officer Elfric James Insull. Bronze Star: Brigadier William George Gentry, Captain George Alexander Kirk Elly, Captain Robert Lindsdy Fenwick, Flight-»Lieut. Patrick Thomas Curran. Captain Henry Alexander McDonald Mitchell, Sergeant James McMeeken and Driver Clifford C. O’Hara.

The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Finance. Mr. Nash, on behalf of the Prime Minister and also other Ministers of the Crown, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Members of Parlament, the Chief of the Services, as well as relatives of those receiving the awards. One award, that of the U.S. Air Medal with an oak leaf cluster and purple heart, to Corporal Arthur James Adams, which was made posthumously, was bestowed by Mr Warren on Corporal Adams’ mother, Mrs. Adele F. Adams. Corporal Adams won his decorations while serving with the U.S. Army Air Force.