M.B.E. Awarded Levin Officer With Long Service

Chronicle (Levin), 8 March 1949, Page 4

M.B.E. Awarded Levin Officer With Long Service

r'On Friday ' Major Henry Wiiiiam Barnett, of Bath Street, Levin, 'was presente'd with the . M.B.E. by .the Governor-General, Sir Bernard Freyberg, V.C, Major Barnett has been a resident of Levin for 30 years. In his youth he p'ayed football with one of the local clubs, but has been mainly interested in music and for many years was a member of a well-known orchestra. He went overseas with the First Echelon on January 7, 1940, and returned to New- Zealand in February, 1948, after seeing service in the Middle East, Italy and Japan. At the age of 48, he is accredited with having the longest service of any senior officer in New Zealand. The following is a copy of the ofRcial citation presented in conjunction with the medal: — ( "Major Barnett gained his corn-.1 lission in the field andi served with distinction in the campaigns of the Western Desert and Tunisia from 1940 to 1943, and later in Italy. During his period as senior workshops officer in Italy, he was responsible for the maintenance of all the New Zealand Army Service Corps Transport of the division and attached New Zealand Army Service Corps units/ This period proved a great strain on -ehicles contending with bad roads, snow and mud, and it was due in no sma'l measure ' to his skill,1 initiative and drive that vehicla maintenance was of such a vexy high order. "In May, 1945, Major Barnett assumed eommand of the Petrol Company, which he had joined as a driver, an-d thus became respon-| sible for the supply of petrol to the whole division. By devotion to duty, untiring effort and splendid| exampie to his men, Major Barne.t ensured that in all campaigns, including the rttpid advance from the River Senio to Trieste, all vehicles had available at all times ample petrol in spi.e of the 'difficulties of road congestion, miieage and bad weather."