HONOURS LIST

Camp News, Volume 3, Issue 115, 27 March 1942, Page 4

HONOURS LIST

Awards To Members Of N.Z.E.F. BRAVERY IN LIBYA • The following list of honours an:, awards to members of the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force during the campaign in Libya was issued yesterday— D.S.O. Temporary-Colonel C. E. Weir, Auckland. Lieutenant-Colonel J. R. Page, Auckland. - . . Lieutenant-Colonel C. Shuttleworth. Auckland. Lieutenant-Colonel L. W. Andrew, V.C., Khandallah. — BAR TO M.C. Major R. Royal, Rotorua. Captain W. R. Carswell, Dunedin. Captain R. C. Pemberton, Christchurch. Captain J. M. Staveley, Palmerston North. Lieutenant H. V. Donald, Masterton. Lieutenant J. W. Reeves, Wellington.' Second Lieutenant A. B, Cottrell, Devonport. x Second Lieutenant F. G. Clubb, Rotorua. Temporary Major T. C. Campbell, England. x Second Lieutenant I. L. Murchison. Seddon. Second Lieutenant A. R. W. Ormond, Wallingford. D.C.M. Sergeant W. Batty, Auckland. Sergeant E. W. Hobbs, Dunedin. Sergeant E. J. E. McQueen, Wellington. Bombardier A. B. Stewart, Napier. Temporary Corporal . D. M. Bassett, Sumner. Sergeant C. W. Mack, Dunedin. BAR TO M.M. Corporal A. Sperry, Hamilton. M.M. Warrant Officer, Second Class, K. B. Booker, Wellington. . 1

were overrun. Ills skill in handling the guns was beyond praise and an inspiration to the whole regiment. Lieutenant-Colonel Page during the Greek campaign led a battalion in action and met with marked . success again in 1 Libya. On November 23 his battalion was attacked by a much larger enemy •force, including tanks, near Sidi Rezegh. During this engagement some forward defended localities began to withdraw under the mistaken interpretation of an order. Lieutenant-Colonel Page immediately rushed to the affected area, and with fine courage and total disregard of danger, rallied the troops, who' retook their former positions in the face of enemy opposition. But for Lieutenant-Colonel Page’s prompt and courageous* action and the great confidence, of the troops in his leadership the enemy penetration in this position would have had serious results. That night Lieutenant-Colonel Page skilfully disengaged the .- enemy, fought a rearguard action and brought his force in perfect order with few casualties and with heavy loss to the enemy to a new, j position. Next night the battalion, against considerable opposition, advanced three miles toward an enemy aerodrome. On the night of November 25 the battalion again advanced and possession of the remaining ground was won despite determined enemy attacks. , 4 By now the battalion had suffered many casualties. and had been almost continuously in action for three .days with scarcely any time for food * and rest. Nevertheless, on the night of November 26 it again advanced against a stronglyheld enemy position and in the face of deadly fire. t The enemy gunners remained at their, action posts till our infantry advanced literally right up to the muzzles of the guns. . The battle * was certainly the fiercest the brigade had ever experienced, and Lieutenant-Colonel Page, who was in the forefront, was ' severely wounded. .His magnificent leadership and courage were outstanding factors in the great success achieved ■ throughout the operations. He was an inspiration to all the troops and the whole brigade. In every action he was every- ' .where on the battlefield. His cheerfulness, utter disregard of danger, indomit- i 'able determination to win, and the skill < with which he disposed his forces over ; and over again, were responsible for the ,1 very fine achievements of his battalion. 1 Headquarters Captured. ( Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew, V.C., a i hero of the last war, receives the D.S.O. 1 for outstanding skill and leadership over : the. very difficult period from November ( 25 to December 9. The headquarters of i the Fifth New Zealand Infantry Brigade I and the attached troops were captured s and taken to Bardia on November 25. c This was not known for certain for ap- c contact brigade headquarters and any s proximately 36 hours. Lieutenant-Colonel v

Andrew’s battalion was then at Menastir. He was trying by all means possible to other units. However, dispatch riders failed to return, and no contact by wireless could be made. Till December 1 Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew's battalion continued to carry on the job at Menastir, where food and water were very low. Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew decided that the only thing to do was to take the battalion and join up with an Indian division near Omars.

Arriving at Omars at 4 a.m., he contacted the Indian Division, which gave him the order to proceed to Musaid and form new brigade headquarters, himself commanding, and use his battalion to strengthen the line from Solium to Capuzzo. These orders were successfully carried out. On December 3 the brigade was ordered to Menastir to occupy the line previously held by the Twenty-second Battalion. At Menastir the brigade defeated several very heavy attacks by the Germans and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy. After three days the brigade was ordered back to take over the SollumCapuzzo line again. Owing to the positions of the enemy this had now become more difficult, and the only track from below the escarpment was very narrow. Blasting by the engineers had been going on for two or three days to make transport possible. However, this was successfully accomplished, and the SollumCapuzzo line was again taken over. During this period Lieutenant-Colonel Andrew showed outstanding courage, and skill in leadership, his. efforts bringing the brigade through a very difficult 14 days. He handed the brigade over on December 9.

Successful Advance Lieutenant-Colonel Shuttleworth led a battalion in the Greek campaign with great skill and courage. He led it again 'in action in the Libyan campaign, displaying the highest qualities of leadership and- complete disregard for his own •safety. On November 23 he was sent to take command in a very difficult situation near Sidi Rezegh. He organized the defences there and was able to retain the position, despite three determined enemy counter-attacks. Next day he organized and directed a very successful advance for the night of November 24. He led a further advance of three miles in the face of determined resistance and it was only his continued presence with the foremost troops and y his skilful employment of then! that resulted in the capture of a blockhouse next morning. He again led the advance, being heavily counter-attacked next morning and suffering many casualties. With another battalion, the same night he led his now sadly depleted battalion in a very successful attack, winning for us the whole of the high ground in the Sidi Rezegh area. Later the battalion, though there were many casualties, continued to re-

Sergeant 11. G. Aro, Auckland. Sergeant A. W. J. Gorrie, Donnelly’s Crossing. Sergeant P. Murtagh, Auckland. Sergeant A. J. Riddell, Te Kuiti. Temporary Sergeant R. J. Bayliss, Hastings. * Lance-Corporal L. 11. Lovegrove, Wellington. Private N. C. Olde, Remuera. Private K. R. Rieper, Napier. Private A. H. Waddick. Invercargill. An'' N.Z.E.F. Official News Service cablegram from Cairo gives the following citations to the decorations: — Colonel Weir receives his D.S.O. for great skill and gallantry in operations in Libya. From November 18 to December 2 he commanded a regiment with great determination and bravery during, the vital operations at Sidi Rezegh and the attacks which led to the opening of the corridor on November 27. Later, during the German counter-attack on December 1, he fought with his regiment against an overwhelming tank attack till his guns