AWARDS AND DECORATIONS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16432, 28 January 1919, Page 8

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS.

! NEW ZEAI/ANDERS HONOURED. 1 (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, December 7. ' Captain R. B. Bannerm&n, D.F.C.,haabeon awarded a Bar to the Cross for his eervices in France. Formerly with the. .4th ' Otago Regiment, Captain Bajinerman transferred to' the R.F.C. witli a commission early in 1917.'He is now officially described as "a bold and resolute leader, whoso ability inspires confidence in those who serve with him. During his operations in September ho accounted' lot six enemy machines, displaying marked courage and judgment." Major Keith L. Caldwtll, M.C., R.F.C. (formerly in the Bank of New Zealand at' .Auckland) has recently gained the D.F.C. for his 1 work in France. The Gazette which records his award describes Major Caldwell a3 "a fine fighting airman of courage and determination. On 4th September, when on an offensive patrol, he, in company with another' maohino, uttocked four Fokker biplanes; one of these was driven down by this officer. Be has accounted for five enemy machines." His record in connexion with the bestowal of the Military. Cross was very fine. It will be remembered that on ono occasion ho led _ a patrol of'five machines against twelve hostile aircraft, all of which he drove down out' o( control. Up' to that time ho "had peraont , ally destroyed five hostile machines, and ha 4 had more, than fifty contests in the air, in all of which ho had displayed, splendid skill anafearlessness. Early in 1918 Major Caldwell was instructor at the Central Flying School of Instruction. ' Surgeon Louis B. Stringer, R.N., attached to the Royal Air Foroa ; has had conferred upon him by the Greek Government the Cross of Military Merit. for services at the lamenaria Hospital, Thasoss. Dr. Stringer comes from Christchurch, and completed his studies at Guy's Hospital, where he' was a promi- ' nent • member of lbs footbalN+eami He has served both with tTib Army and with the . Navy throughout the war. Surgeon-Mechanio Raymond G. Goldfinch,- • IR.A.F. (Feilding) has received the Air Force ■ ; 'Medal. • Arriving', in England at .the begin- : ning of '1916 ho joined up with the R,NjLS.' as' Air Mechariio for the duration, of Ihe war, . . Captain A.'- C. B. Crifchloy-S*ln^onaozi,. R D.5.0., Royal Minister Fuailieis, has" . beeil mentioned in despatches by Major-General I/. 0. FitzM. Stack, K.8.E., C.M:G.", acting-Sir- . dar and Governor-Generid of the Soudan, for distinguished and gallant'services in the field in connexion with tile operations carried out i in the Nyma Hills, Nuba Mountains Province, Soudan. Cnptuin Critchley-Salmonson was formerly adjutant of the Canterbury Infantry Battalion, and he was wounded in the middle of 1915. f Official details are now given regarding th*.' . acts ' for- which the D.C.M. was awarded to four members of tho N.Z.E.F. They were: B.S.M. G. R. Bain, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, N.Z.F.A; Private W G. Cavenett, New/ Zei- , land Cyclist Corps, attached 22nd Corps I Cyclist Battalion; Sergeant D. Fletcher, Now > Zealand M-.G.C., arrl Private E- Lanausej 2nd 'Battalion,, Wellington' Regiment. j While ammunition waggons were being 'unloaded at a forward gun position, it ' was suddenly subjected to very hc*vy fire. B.S.M: ' ' G. R. Bain's horse was killed • under ' him; many team horseß were killed and wounded,' and the drivers of one team thrown by the force" of tho explosion, and . the team broke away. ] 'He stopped them, and, his officer becoming" a casualty, he took- charge, dumped; the'£mmunition, and "cleared . the column: ' He returned alone, and destroyed all hopelessly injured horses. He set a magnifioent example'' of courage and coolness. '- 1 Private W. G. Cavenett was with tho corps' . j mounted troops. in the vanguard of the diviision, which met considerable resistance : feolh " 'a.redoubt. Single-handed ho worked'his way' • round to the rear, ..and, despite the fact that ' ' fired on at short range-by snipers and- ■ maohino-guna, rushed 'the "poet; bayoneting *'" three of the erffemy, and taking a fourth pn«" soner. . Sergeant D. Fletcher assumed command'' * when his section commander-had bocome' »a > casualty, and showed great coolness' and ' " initiative under very heavy machine-gun file and" bombing corunter-attacka by th« enemy. He and one other man were , the only two unwounded in- tho team, but they kept tho gun inaction until bothwero wound- ■ ed, and until tho infantry were compolled to withdraw 1 , when they withdrew their gun and re-opened fire. He then organised his section with ability, obtained fresh guns, and remained on duty through* j out the day, sending back clear, and valuable reports. By his personal-courage and leadership he rendered very valuable service. -He - has prcriov.rly done fine work. I