MEDAILLE MILITAIRE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17282, 25 September 1916, Page 7

MEDAILLE MILITAIRE.

PRESENTED TO NEW ZEALANDER. [Pi:t» Pit/' AssnrnTiON'.l AUCKLAND September 23. An interesting ceremony took place at the Domain this afternoon, when Sergeant-Major P. C. Boate, D.C.M.. was presented with the Medaillo Militaire, conferred by the President of Franco in recognition of gallant conduct in the field. The sergeant-major assumes that it was for the same incident which earned him the Distinguished Conduct Medal, presented to him in England by General Birdwood. This was for conspicuous bravery dor # ihc Chunuk Bair action at Gallipoli on August 9, 1915. Boate, with another •ion - commissioned officer ('1 rcopcr White, of Canterbury, Sergeant-Major Boate says it was), displayed great braverv and resource in holding the right flank at a wenk point, requiring great vigilance. Tho sergeant-major modestly declares that if there was any merit in the action it was certainly equally shared by all the men who were thero. It was " a pretty warm corner." Sergeant-Major Boate has had a long career of soldiering, and for over sixteen years served in tho Ist and 2nd Welsh Regiments, from which he retired as colour-sergeant in 1907. He thon camo to New Zealand. He went to the front with»-ono of tho first bodies. , , Tho Minister of Dcfcnco presented tho decoration. The Minister also presented a twelve years' m*dnl to Colonel W. G. S. Patterson (Officer Commanding tho Auckland district), a sixteen years' medal to Lieutenant A- E. Jnegs (Senior Cadets), ft Territorial decoration to Lieutenant-Colonel Hnrrortrt Turner (officer commanding Motuihi camp) and the Rev J. Ranking, and tho meritorious service medal to Sergeant-Ma jor Walter W. Eastburv, for twenty-five yearsservice. Sergennt-Mnjor Eas'bury. formerlv of the Grenadier Guards and now of'the New Zealand Permanent Staff, fought under Kitchener at Omdurman on September 9, 1898. Tho presentations were made at a P arn< ' pwhich was attended by oyer 0000 troops, including two companies of Ansae*, and +he Senior Cadets, tho muster of tlie latter being a feature.