GREAT COURAGE

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32407, 15 March 1944, Page 7

GREAT COURAGE

MILITARY MEDAL AWARD BRAVERY AT TAKROUNA SGT. A. G. DAVIES. COROMANDEL Sgt. A. G. Davies, M.M., of Coromandel, who was awarded the Military Medal last April, is at present on furlough from Italy and is in Coromandel. The following extract from the N.Z.E.F. Times of June, 1943, gives the citation for the award as under: “Between April 20 and; 22, during the Takrouna action, Cpl. Davies was in command of a line detachment establishing and maintaining very important line communications under most difficult and dangerous conditions. On the morning of April 20 he laid a cable between two battalions in full view of and under fire from enemy snipers. “The area was also .being subjected to consistant mortar fire. Throughout the day of April 21 the line between Brigade H.Q. and a position on top of Takrouna feature was subject

to frequent breaks as a result of heavy shell fire. Cpl. Davies exhibited great courage and determination in carrying- out the tasks of repair work on this line which provided the sole line for communications of vital importance. “On the same day he successfully maintained another battalion lateral line in an area subjected to continuous fire. This task was complicated by the fact that the linesman had to pass through a minefield and along a wadi covered by heavy and accurate machine gun fire. On the morning of April 22 he laid a line between the two battalions and this line had to ibe laid beyond the forward company in a position under steady fire. Disregarding advice to retire during progress of the task he continued to lay the line to its destination. (During the period of three days, despite fatigue and with no apparent thought for personal safety, this N.C.O. was promptly out on the job every time communication was interrupted!.”