BRAVE SOLDIERS

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21531, 20 September 1941, Page 6

BRAVE SOLDIERS

MILITARY HONOURS GREEK AND CRETE CAMPAIGNS MEN OF ALL RANKS INCLUDED HAMILTON SERGEANT IN LIST (From the Official War correspondent with the 2nd JVZ.E.F.) CAIRO, Sept. 18 Thirty-two immediate awards for gallantry in action in the two Balkan campaigns fought by the New Zealand Expeditionary Force are published today. They are as follows: , CAMPAIGN IN GREECE Distinguished Service Order.— i Major G. J. O. Stewart. Military Cross.—Lieutenant W. F. Liley, Second-Lieutenant C. *T. Mason, Second-Lieutenant E. A. McPhail. Distinguished Conduct Medal.— Bombadier E. W. Santi, Driver J. A. Snell. Military Medal. Warrant-Officer (Second Class) A. H. Lockett, Sergeant G. Katene, Corporal J. J. W. King, Corporal J. Tainui, Bombardier G. F. Scoltock, Gunner H. R. Drinkwater, Gunner R. W. Bunton, Gunner T. W. J. Tombleson, Private A. V. Lee, Private J. E. Brock, Private A. H. Todd, Private R. W. Common, Private A. R. Morrison, Private H. E. Struthers, Private M. J. Richardson, Driver R. S. Grant, Driver J. G. Macdonald. DEFENCE OF CRETE Distinguished Service Order.— Lieutenant-Colonel H. K. Kippenberger. Military Gross.—Captain R. J. Lynch, Captain C. N. Watson. Distinguished Conduct Medal.— Lance-Sergeant V. D. Kirk, Corporal W. T. Weir. Military Medal. Temporary War-rant-Officer (Second Class) N. C. Tasker, Lance-Sergeant E. H. Elliott, Private T. E. Duncan, Driver M. K. Gibbs. Checked Enemy Advance Lieutenant - Colonel Kippenberger, who commanded a composite brigade, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for “ complete disregard of danger, energetic aggressive spirit and considerable tactical skill in organising counter-attacks and repelling determined enemy attacks made under cover of Severe enemy air attacks, trench mortar and machine-gun fire. Although suffering from loss of sleep and a sprained ankle, he showed quick appreciation and cool courage in meeting determined enemy attacks at Galatos on May 25. “ When our line was practically broken he was almcbt entirely responsible for checking the enemy advance and establishing a new line in the rear. “ His work throughout was of the highest order.” Captain Lynch, distinguished himself in the same action. On May 29, at Skiphio, with a weak company, he completely held up the enemy advance for five hours. Captain Watson is commended for outstanding qualities of leadership, tenacity, skill in handling his company and, at orre stage, a whole battalion.

Redoubtable Sergeant Lance-Sergeant Kirk was in the leading platoon during the memorable attack of Malemi on May 22 by South Islanders and Maoris. With an officer, he went on a highly dangerous journey through 600 yards of enemyoccupied ground, shooting a German on the way and bringing safely back about 100 men who would otherwise have been cut off. When his company was outflanked at Galatos three days later, Lance-Sergeant Kirk organised a party and led a counterattack with complete success. Fortyfour Germans were killed. 11 of them by Lance-Sergeant Kirk himself. Gallant Rescue Lance-Sergeant Elliott, of the engineers, performed an act of outstanding bravery, carrying a wounded man to safety on May 23. He moved over a very exposed area through heavy enemy fire to rescue a sapper who had been wounded while attacking a German post. Unaided he carried the wounded 50 yards to a covering ridge. The sapper was hit by two more bullets during the rescue. Throughout the actions in Greece and Crete Lance-Sergeant Elliott was cool, daring and an example to his men, says the citation. LANCE-SERGEANT ELLIOTT Lance-Sergeant E. H. Elliott, awarded the Military Medal for the rescue of a wounded man in Crete, is the only son of Mr J. H. Elliott, of Hamilton, well known in stock circles in the Waikato. LanceSergeant Elliott was educated at the Hamilton West and Takapuna Grammar Schools and afterward went on to a farm near Morrinsville. Aged 23 when he left New Zealand as a sapper, he earned promotion in Crete after having been previously in the lighting at Bardia and in Greece.