IMMEDIATE AWARDS FOR GALLANTRY

Camp News, Volume 3, Issue 135, 14 August 1942, Page 4

IMMEDIATE AWARDS FOR GALLANTRY

Four New Zealanders INCIDENTS IN DEFENCE OF EGYPT :.-Jr * CAIRO, August 7. The immediate award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal has been made to Sergeant Stewart Victor Lord, whose story of how he disabled two German tanks and captured ; 16 prisoner's,’was sent in a dispatch - from . Cairo a few days ago. “On , the night of July 14, when his company was advancing on Ruweisat Ridge, tanks were encountered which were holding up the advance,” says the citation. “Lord led a small party toward one tank, took the crew prisoner and' disabled the tank with grenades. A second tank nearby opened fire on the party and Lord immediately rushed the tank, killing the - commander

and again,,using fgrenades for its dis-' ablement. .. Lord has fought with distinction throughout the campaign and. set a worthy example to his 'fellows.” . -I 1 Three more immediate awards for gallantry in the New' Zealanders’ part , of the defence of Egypt were announced-’ today. They are Military : Cross 3 ( Captain David Spence Thomson ; Lieutenant Frank Edward Foster. Military Medal: Sergeant James Alexander"' ■ Brown. ; A story of coolness and daring i)H told in the citation which covers Cap-rti

tain Thomson’s decoration;- On th< night of June 27, during ,an attack or Bir Abu Batta, Thomson commanded a forward company, of f the leading battalion. With great skill and courage he led the company ' which was respom si-ble-- for --the destruction of mam” machinegun positions. Always in front and though wounded,., he undoubted! was personally responsible for a grerl deal of the success achieved. At tl. conclusion of the attack he would n? 1 report for medical attention, but co lected his men and saw them safe] in their transports. On succeeding daw he made light of his wounds and ca tied on in a cheerful manner.

Inspiration and Example. v “On the morning, of-July 3, during i attack" against artillery o f the j tali , Ariete Division, Thomson’s company w again leading the battalion in ! the e tack. Once more through his skill, pt sonal: courage and dash, while und heavy machinegun, anti-tank and mort fire, he was greatly responsible for ti overwhelming success of the attaJ Throughout this campaign, in Greece al in the second Libyan campaign, Tho son’s actions have been ■ an ' inspiratF and example, not only to members of ?’ company, but also to all ranks in battalion.” Foster won his decoration for gallant, at Minquar. Quaim~on. June .27.. : “Wi’ a small, detachment of engineers, Fost< was 'ordered to lay a belt of anti-tai mines across the mouth of a wadi t ward which enemy tanks were approac ing,” says the citation. “About half belt had been laid when the tanks reach) a position from which the New Zealai . party ‘could be seen. The enemy open! up with severe and accurate fire. I: spired by Foster’s example, the detac ment unhesitatingly continued with tl work. Within a minute, five had be< killed , and four wounded, but the othe were continuing the job when order to withdraw. • Foster then sent a ft survivors away and himself went acre to a three-ton truck loaded with mini and, though-wounded, drove it to safe*

I -step’s« i S 6 fire T determ Mation under Sffu ct of L the Jv spiration of the J. an attach e e detachment.” at pi yr a ?ross a fire-swept de!?tess. v at E Mreir on July 4 Brown’s j? its obiecHtl Uted in his Platoon S Brown evn/fi ays fhe citation. . n order tn°i ed himself for long If ma chinegun 10C • and neutralize I tossed i P° sitl °n6. Brown . J”® 8 a,l( ’ r at ii e n 'Repression - twice for >de r became When his Platoon >i^ ep conSf a cavity. Brown ' »ion sh ?Y ed skill and • Was an in. dl l? s hls men His •any. aspiration to the whole