BRAVERY IN THE FIELD

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3107, 11 June 1917, Page 4

BRAVERY IN THE FIELD

— ♦ •' DECORATIONS PRESENTED CEREMONY AT THE HALL Over 1000 people gathered at tho Town Hall on Saturday afternoon when the Governor presented three Military lied- : als which were won in the present warfor bravery in tho field. The winners of tho medals were:— 10/3296, Sergt. W. A. Holmes, Wellington Battalion, who died o£ wounds on J£oveniper 12, 1916. Next-oi-kia, Sir. i'Vancis Hoimes. ■• a/218 Sergt. A. J. Dodd, Canterbury Battalion, who V3»g. killed in action on September 11 i 216. Next-of-kin, Mrs. C. E. Dodd. 10/389 Sergt. W. E. Bennett. Pioneer ; Battalion. Sergt. Bennett was present to receive his medal, but the pother two decorations were received by the next-of-kin. The Bljjgjitations were made amidst appla'ueeuuu cheering. >j After the ceremony His Excellency the* Governor delivered a brief address. He said he deemed it a privilege to be able to , present the medals, and he congratulated Ser»t. Bennett on being there to receive, bis medal. Hβ thanked Mr. Holmes and Mrs. Dodd for coming to receive tho medals won by their sons. He desiral the young men present to recognise that: the distribution of these medals ivas an outward and visible, recognition by, the Sovereign of the Bravery of their countrymen. There was a time iriiert things were not the same; some of the Waterloo medals were not distributed till so long after the war that the mei* ■who won > them had gone to their, last; account. War was a terrible thing, but the present war had brought out alf. that was good in tho British people as no ether war had. If the war led to better things—he believed it would—it I would not have been fought in vain. The spirit of cameraderie vras shown everywhere, and our men were fighting; to uphold the traditions handed down to them by their forefathers. Hβ -was su.re the soldiers of to-day would do as well as their forefathers had done. The 'three medals just presented needed a little explanation. He did not think people realised that they were struck during the present war at the express wish, of the King. Not every man could win tho Victoria Cross, so His Majesty had the Military Medal struck. Everyone would recognise what the King had dons in tie way of ensurine that no deed of valour would go unrecognised. Tho gathering was concluded with the singing o? the National Anthem and cheers for the Governor, the Mayor, and. others. The Minister of Defence was among those present, and a large body of Cadets and Territorials was parade* for the occasion. The cadets paraded. 1800 strong, the largest turn-out for about two years, and were afterwards inspected by the Governor.