UNIQUE AWARDS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 120, 23 May 1942, Page 7

UNIQUE AWARDS

HEROISM ON FARM

Work On British Coast Despite Constant Nazi Attacks

United Press Association.—Copyright. Rec. 11 a.m. LONDON, May 22. Probably unique in British historv was the decoration of a farmer and his helpers for carrying on their farm on the British coast nearest Kurope despite enemy attacks. The ■London Gazette announces the award ° f the George Medal to Gilbert W J. Mitchell and the British Empire Medal to Mrs. Mitchell and Miss G. Li. Harrison, who is now a tractor ln Women's Land Army ..The citation states: "Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell and Miss Harrison had made an unexampled effort and had shown sustained bravery and devotion to duty in carrying on farming under enemy gunfire and air attacks. The farm is scarred with filled-in shellholes and buildings. It is probably the most vulnerable in the country and yet work was carried on all the time during the Battle of Britain and ever since. Raiders machinegunned the farm and land work had stopped, but, despite all these difficulties and dangers, there was no change in the routine of milking and attending to stock. "Mr. Mitchell and Miss Harrison when cutting corn, often took cover under their tractor or binder to escape the raiders' machine-gunning. Mr. Mitchell was once driving his tractor when a balloon was shot down in flames and the burning fabric fell across his tractor. He put out the flames and carried on his work. The Mitchells, with the help of Miss Harrison, had remained on the farm and had not only saved their own crops, but those on evacuated farms."