GALLANT ENGINEERS

Waikato Times, Volume 106, Issue 22612, 18 May 1945, Page 3

GALLANT ENGINEERS

NEW ZEALANDERS PRAISED SISTIANA, May 15 Earlier reports have told what the New Zealand Engineers did to earn high praise from Allied leaders and since the Italian campaign ended it has been possible to collect stories of outstanding individual deeds. The New Zealanders were the only engineers to build a Bailey bridge under assault conditions and their speedy work throughout was largely due to intensive preparation. Much credit for developing the low-level bridging technique goes to Captain N. J. H. Harris, of Wellington, who set a great example to his men at Santerno under fire, when he went out in daylight and cleared mines to the top of the stopbank. Then, under Spandau fire, he cleared the stopbank to speed up bulldozing. The bulldozer of Temporary-Cor-poral A. M. Read, of Tauwhare, near Hamilton, exploded three mines on the Senio bank, but he kept going. He was badly bruised when the bulldozer was blown up by an antitank mine, but he took charge of a replacement machine and completed his job. On the Guiana road he took the place of a oulldozer driver who was wounded and completed three crossings under machinegunning and shelling.

The Government is considering allowing wives of men in the Canadian army of occupation to join their husbands in Germany when shipping permits, states the Canadian press. A recommendation to this effect is believed to have emanated from the headquarters of General Crcar.