RAILWAY MEN’S BRAVERY

Southland Times, Issue 24824, 17 August 1942, Page 4

RAILWAY MEN’S BRAVERY

Invercargill Man Mentioned

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, August 16. The story of the bravery of four members of a New Zealand railway operating company in the Middle bast, who were largely instrumental in saving valuable war department stores, is told in. an order issued by LieutenantGeneral Sir Bernard Freyberg, general officer commanding the N.Z.E.F. in the Middle East, an extract from which has been brought to the notice of the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. The order, which was issued on May 1, reads: — In February last a train proceeding to Mensa Matruh was bombed by enemy aircraft, causing tank wagons to catch fire. The G.O.C.’s attention has been drawn particularly to the commendable conduct of the four undermentioned. Their prompt action, at the risk of being badly burned, assisted in a valuable saving of war department stores which otherwise would have been a total loss. They are:—

Sapper A. W. Bennett, engine driver, whose next of kin is Mrs J. E. Bennett, Invercargill. Sapper R. Graham, fireman; next of kin, Mrs M. J. Graham, Kamo. Lance-Sergeant M. D. Walsh, next of kin, Mrs M. B. Walsh, Auckland. Sapper R. S. Simons; next of kin, F. Smith, Cheviot. Relationship in all cases is not stated. An entry in the paybooks and personal records of the four men is to be made accordingly. , , , , Mr Jones stated that he had also received advice of the excellent work of New Zealand railway units in the Middle East, both constructional and operating. The construction companies had carried the Western Desert line to a point not far short of Tobruk, and the operating companies had been running the line under very difficult conditions with harassing air attacks from the enemy. “Many expressions of commendation have been made by general headquarters, Middle East Forces,_ on the work of these New Zealand units,” continued Mr Jones, who said there was no doubt that they had assisted very materially in the improvement of the supply position in the Western Desert.