VICTORIA CROSS FOR NAVAL OFFICER

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5282, 19 December 1946, Page 5

VICTORIA CROSS FOR NAVAL OFFICER

: (Press Assn.-

EPIC OF JAVA SEA , JAPANESE CONVOY ENGAGED . - y

-Rec. 9.30 p.m.)

i/ LONDON, Dec. 18, The Victoria Cross has been posthumously awarded to Temporary Lieutenant Thomas Wilkinson, R.N.R., for valour at Singapore in February, 1942, when he commanded H.M. patro] vessel Liwo. The Gazette says the award is bestowed not only for Lieutenant Wilkinson's heroism but to honour those who fought and died with him. The citation says that Liwo, formerly a small passenger steamer on the upper Yangtse River, was travelling- to Batavid' from Singapore, on February -14, 1942, with a crew mainly of aurvivors of sunken ahips. She carried one 4in. gun with 13 practice shells and two maehine-guns. She sighted two enemy eonvoys, the leader of whieh wras escorted by a heavy cruiser and destroyer. Lieutenant Wilkinson decided .'rather than try to escape, to engage the convoy in the hope of inflicting damage. He was supported by the crew, who knew the ship was faced with certain destruction. Liwo Ihoisted the battle ensign and engaged the enemy. A Japanese transport was badly hit and set on fire. Lieutenant Wilkinson later rammed vhe burning transport before Liwo sank. The transport burned fiereely all night after the aetion and probably sank. Lieutenant Wilkinson's award canetls the announcement made a year ago that he had been awarded posthumous mention in despatches. Lieutenant Wilkinson went down with the -ship. Ten survivors of the 84 aboard the ship were made prisoners of war by the Japanese. Ten members of Liwo's crew, three o/'whom arc dead, received awards, mcluding the D.S.O. to Temporary Sub-Lieutenant Ronald Gladstone Stanton, R.N.R., the only surviving otlicer; the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal to acting-Petty -Off icer Arthur illiam Thompson, who volunteered to serve as a gunlayer; and Distin- ^ g'uished Service Medals to LeadingI Seaman Victor Spencer, who manned one maehine-gun, and Able-Seaman Albert Spendlove, a member of the gun crew. * Temporary- Lieutenant Edgar Neil J Derbridge, R.N.Z.X., was one of 0 three posthumously mentioned in a despatches. itD.KC. For Airmen Five Years After . (X.Z.P.A. Special Corresjiondent) 1 LONDOX, December 18. 10 Xearly live years after the date tvhfii his death has been presumed, II Pilot-Officer A. C. Sharp, of Auck- ^ lan i. has beeil gazetted winner of the M D.I-.C. The delay was due to some nncertainty whether he was alive or »ii dead. ga 1 ois officer was a member of the Kew Zealand 488 Squadron in SingaTj P°rt'. which he joined in September $ 184 L He also flew with 243 Squadstj to". llS He shot down two Japanese aircraft jfc an'l damaged three others, and was tecuminended for ihe D.F.C. This \ t tras approved, but when the time eqj cam,. for the award, it was officially 1 1 gazetted that Pilot-Officer Sharp had p ken shot down in Java behind the P Japanese line$. One report stated'that b* uas seen to force-land uninjured patout February 26, 1942, but nothing a°|'' was ever heard of him. W Since the end of the war many ^inqtr.vies have been made, but without jpfcua. Last month it was decided l^ihat liis death should he presumed as I'Jon- February 20, 1942, and that the pLeeoration which he won should be |L ^""nce'iL The citation issued to§P % -tates that during the whole of r» Js operational career he displayed ^t'piional keenness and courage. few Zealanders Decorated ^ P alace Investiture (X.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) LONDON, December 18. ^At an investiture at Buckingham alace yesterday, the King decorated If following members of the 2nd -•Z.E.F.— Brigadiers G. B. Parkinson C.B.E., •S.O. and Bar; T. J. King and J. M. ditchell D.S.O.; Colonel R. C. Queree ;LE„ DS.L .; Lieutenant-Colonel W. - Savage D.S.O. Hiadier C. E. Weir C.B., G.BE., ■S.O. and Bar, was also to have Fended but he was ill in St. ptholomew's Hospital.