RED LETTER BAY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 132, 21 July 1941, Page 5

RED LETTER BAY

GREEK KING'S APPRECIATION HONOURS CONFERRED It was a red letter day for a platoon in an Auckland Battalion recently when King George of Greece manifested his appreciation of se:vices rendered to him by that platoon in Cretei. Before the whole Battalion, drawn up in mass formation, King George decorated the platoon commander, Second Lieutenant W. H. Ryan, and the. 24 members of his platoon., who acted as bodygaurd to "His Majesty during the evacuation of Crete. The awards were as follows: Cross of George the First of Greece with swords, Second Lieutenant W. 11. Ryan; Gold Medal of George the First with swords, Sergeant L. V. Smith and Sergeant J. F. Seymour; Silver Medal of George the First with swords, Cpl. W. J. Pritt, Cpl. N. C. Dunn, Cpl. G. Fraser, L/Cpl. W . A. Smith; Silver Medal of George the First with swords, L/Cpl. A. tiolgerson, Privates V. R. Ball, C. Hunt, R. Ward, H. Ward, T. G. H. Howell, L. A. Renwick, R. W. Hisdop, W. A. Pettit, J. O. Bishop, H. Fulcher, T. A. Manson, M. Vincent, I. A. Sanders, H. P. Sanders, W. C. Saxon, L. J. Frariklin and A. M. Meredith. The story has already been told of how Mr Ryan's platoon w r as detailed to act as bodyguard for th» Greek Royal party, during their evacuation from Crete. The task was no easy one and it involved an arduous climb to the highest point of the White Mountains over a lengthy period without food. While above the snowline the party came across a shepherd and they were refreshed with ewes' milk and fed on boiled mutton. The New Zealanders carried out their duties efficiently and successfully and King George has lost no time in showing his gratitude. When he arrived at the New Zealand camp for the ceremony King George was accompanied by Grown Prince Paul. Prince George and Prince Peter and Princesses Fredrica, Catherine -and Marie. Colonel Blunt, who was in charge of the arrangements far escorting King George from Crete. Avas also present. Major General B. C. Freyberg, V.C., also attended the ceremony. King George was accorded a Royal Salute as he arrived, the N.Z.E.F. Band playing the Greek National Anthem. After inspecting the Bat; talion he decorated in turn each member of the nlatoon which had acted as his bodyguard. Cheers were given for His Majesty and the ceremony concluded with a short address in which King George expressed his pleasure at seeing the platoon assembled together again. He also expressed the hope/ that the future efforts of the soldiers present would meet with success.