MEDALS AND DECORATIONS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1919, Page 4

MEDALS AND DECORATIONS.

THE LATEST INFORMATION. WELLINGTON, This Day. The Defence Department has received advice from His Excellency the Governor General that His Majesty the King has been pleased to approve the issue of a special decoration to all troops who were in certain defined theatres ~of operations on duty with their units during the period August .';;h, 101-!, till December 31st, 1915, both dates inclusive. The details of this award are published in an Army Order of December 23rd. as follows: (1) New decoration applies to those who have served in theatres of war between August sth. 1914, and December 31st, 1915, both dates inclusive. Those entitled to 1914 Star will not be eligible for the new decoration. 12) Decoration will be star in bronze. i;3) No clasp will be issued with the Star. (4) Ribband will be red white and blue, shaded and watered. (5) Provided claims approved by Army Council, Star will be granted to all officers, warrant officers, noncom missioned officers and men of British Dominion, Colonial and Indian i Forces, including civilians medical | practitioners, nursing sisters, nurses, I and others employed with Military | Hospitals, who actually served- on ! the establishment of unit in a theatre

of war. (6) Instructions as to submission of claims and disposal of Stars in ease of Dominion, Colonial and Indian Forces will bo issued by respective Governments. The effect of this is that all New Zealand soldiers who took part in the occupation of Samoa on the 29tli August, 1914, those who participated in the operations against tlq. Turko-Ger-man forces in Egypt in 1915, or who look part in the operations at the Dardanelles will be entitled to this decoration.

| As soon as the full text of the Imperial Army Order comes to hand; by i mail, the details given above have been cabled —a local General Order will be published. In the meantime, the ; compilation of the rolls of those entitled to the awards has been put in hand.

A question having arisen as to the issue of the King’s badge and certificate tto demobilised <4>lHjicrs the Defence Department, cabled to England for the Army Council’s decision and the reply is that the Badge and certificate have only to be issued as at present and not to* demobilised soldiers and the cable adds that a special certificate of discharge will be issued later to all demobilised men'.