MEDALS AND DECORATIONS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16433, 29 January 1919, Page 10

MEDALS AND DECORATIONS.

A SPECIAL HONOUR

(SITXIAI. TO "Till! PRESS.")

WELLINGTON, January 28

The Defence 'Department has received advico from his Excellency the Go-vernor-Goueral that his Majesty the King has been pleaded to approve the issue of it special decoration to all troops who were in certain defined theatres of operations on duty with their units during the period August slh, 191-1, till December 31st-, 1915, both <iatos- iwltt-,ivi\ The details of this award are published in tin Army Order ii| De:omber I'.'ird, a.s follows:—

(1) New decoration applies to thoso who have served in theatres of war between August sth. 1914, and December o'lst, 1915. both dates inclusive. Those entitled to 1914 Star will not be oligiblo for the new decoration.

(2) Decoration will be star in bronre. (•i) .No clasp will be issued with Star. (I) Riband will bo red, white, and blue, shaded and watered.

(5) Provided claims approved by Army Council, Star will be granted to all officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of British, Dominion, Colonial, and Indian Forces, including civilians, medical practitioners, nursing sisters, nurses and others employed with military hospitals who actually served on the establishment of unit in a theatre of war.

(J>) Instructions as to submission of claims and disposal of Stars in case of Dominion, Colonial, and Indian Forces will be issued by respective Governments.

The effect of this is that all New Zealand soldiers who took part in the occupation of Samoa on August £9th, 191-1, those who participated in the operations against the Turko-German forces in Egypt in 1915, or who took part in the operations at the Dardanelles, will bo entitled to this decoration.

As soon as the full text of the Imperial Army Order comes to hand by mail —tho details given . abovt* have' been cabled —a local General Order will bo .published. . In the meantime, tho compilation of the rolls of thoso entitled to tho awards has boen put in hand.

A question having arisen as to the issue of the King's badge and certificate to demobilised soldiers, the Dofence Department cabled to England for the Army Council's decision, and tho reply is that the badge and certificate have only to bo issued as at jpro-' sent, and not to demobilised soldiers, and the cable adds that a special certificate of discharge will' be issued later to all demobilised men.