A PROUD RECORD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 5, Issue 97, 28 August 1942, Page 5

A PROUD RECORD

j B' (HAURAKI) COMPANY HISTORY DURING PRESENT WAR (VI) Lieut. Col. Dawe, Area Commander (Faeroa) has kindly forwarded us a brief official account of the activities of B (Hauraki) Company in the present war. The record is made by Major R. G. Webb- up to the opening of the Libyan campaign and is carried on from, there by Gapt. Jack Gonoilly (since posted as wounded). The history will be published in column form from issue to issue. There had been several changes among the officers. Lieut Carroll, now T/Cpl Carroll, was transferred to "A" Company as Second-in-Com-mand, Lieut Turnbull being appointed acting Second-in-Command. of B Company in his place. 2/Lieut Mitchell, though still attached, to B Company had been appointed Bn. I.C. Lieut R. J. H. Seal, who- had been instructing at the Liaison Wing of the Middje East Tactical School, was attached to B Company as a Platoon Commander. On 12th. February, the Company took part in the Brigade Parade before the G.C.C. (Major-Gencral Freyberg) and the C in C (General Auchinlech). Sgt Grimmond was among the recipients of decorations, receiving the B.E.M. for work in Greece. The biggest move of the Battalion, to Syria, began on Ilth March, 1942, and by 14th March, the Battalion had arrived at. its destination. The next day, B Company was sent out on special duty.

Quite a number of the N.CLO.'s have been selected for 0.C.T.U.. and have been successful in gaining commissions. Of the original members who 1 joined the Company on Ist January, 1940', the following gained commissions before: leaving New Zealand-:- —G. V. Tuirnbiaill (Whakatane); H. Thompson (Te Awaiautu ex Waihi); H. Carr (Rotorua)," J. G. Cutler (Whakatane);; H. Crammond (Auckland) 1 ; J'. V. Tanner (Auckland). Others to gain commissions either in New Zealand or overseas were:— H. G. Cutler (Whakatane)); J. B. Daw (Clevedon); I. Graham (Te Aroha)s T. A. Hawke (Rotor ma)'; D. C. Ker (Rotorua); T. M. Logie (New Plymouth); J. C. Chalmers (Ch'ristchurch).; H. W. Chambers (Whakatane),; W. H. McHale (Rotoruia).!