NEW ZEALANDERS DECORATED

Southland Times, Issue 24827, 20 August 1942, Page 5

NEW ZEALANDERS DECORATED

FIVE MORE AWARDS (Official War Correspondent) CAIRtf, August 18. Five more New Zealanders are included in a further list of immediate awards for bravery in the Battle for Egypt announced by Middle East Headquarters today. They are:— Distinguished Service Order.— Lieutenant-Colonel J. N. Peart, Auckland. Military Cross—Lieutenant K. J. Fraser, Wellington. Distinguished Conduct Medal.—Corporal A. J. Voss, Tauranga. Military Medal.— Regimental Ser-geant-Major A. B. H. Naughton, Whangarei; Sergeant W. J. Kennedy, Tauranga. OUTSTANDING LEADERSHIP Lieutenant-Colonel Peart, formerly headmaster of King’s College, Auckland, received the D.S.O. for outstanding leadership, braver} and determination, says the citation. At El Terier depression on the night of July 21 he led his South Island battalion in a New Zealand 6th Brigade attack on the depression. The battalion reached its objective to find 12 enemy tanks occupying it. Under Lieutenant-Colonel Peart’s direction the forward companies attacked the tanks and knocked out three with a stick of grenades. A reserve ammunition truck was blown up by the tanks’ fire and a reserve of anti-tank grenades destroyed. Contact with the remainder of the brigade on the left flank could not be made, although three successive patrols were sent out. At 4.30 a.m., when all efforts to make contact or obtain anti-tank support failed, Lieutenant-Colonel Peart withdrew the survivors of the forward companies, leaving B company in an intermediate position on the flank of the sth New Zealand Brigade. At 8 a.m., when some Grant tanks of an armoured brigade finally appeared, Lieutenant-Colonel Peart personally led his reserve company and tanks forward to the depression and engaged the enemy tanks. During all the fighting Lieutenant-Colonel Peart -vas constantly moving about among his men, encouraging them and at all times setting a high example of courage and perseverance. It was due to his outstanding leadership, discrimination and sound judgment that the battalion remained a fighting unit. Lieutenant-Colonel Peart’s battalion was commanded at Sidi Rezegh last November by an All Black, LieutenantColonel J. R. Page, who was wounded in the famous attack on Sidi Rezegh blockhouse. COOLNESS AND COURAGE A story of coolness and courage in tile face of constant danger is revealed in the citation covering the award of the M.C. to Lieutenant Frazer, a son of Mr Justice Frazer. On July 15 the 4th New Zealand Machine-gun Company was attached to brigade headquarters during an attack on Ruweisak Ridge. Enemy tanks were encountered and brigade headquarters moved back. Lieutenant Frazer was ordered to go forward and join a South Island battalion. He took his platoon forward under heavy fire until stopped by three enemy tanks at 200 yards range. Instead of moving back he remained still and in the half light was undiscovered. Soon after he sighted four enemy guns, and- with his platoon engaged them so successfully that the enemy abandoned the guns and withdrew. Shortly after a body of enemy troops with prisoners was sighted. Lieutenant Frazer advanced with his platoon, released a sth Brigade defence platoon and captured the enemy guards. Throughout the rest of the day he remained in an exposed, isolated position and engaged numerous targets successfully. At 9 p.m. he returned to brigade headquarters with important information about our own troops. He was an inspiration to his men. Corporal Voss attacked and destroyed an enemy medium machine-gun post and its crew with hand grenades on the morning of July 15 during the attack on Ruweisak Ridge. Later in the morning, although hand grenades were thrown at him by a tank crew, Corporal Voss attacked the tank with a pick in an effort to damage the tracks. He then moved out and brought in two wounded men under heavy fire from mortars and tank machine-guns. During the whole attack Corporal Voss showed indifference to personal safety and led his men with determination and vigour. TANKS FORCED TO RETIRE In the course of a night attack on July 22, Corporal Voss’s platoon attacked what appeared to be a machinegun post. On nearing the objective six enemy tanks were encountered, supported by infantry. As the line of withdrawal was cut off by tank machinegun fire, the attack was continued. Corporal Voss led his section against two tanks, and by the use of anti-tank grenades forced them to retire damaged. He also destroyed several of the enemy, with grenades and forced the remainder to retire. When the order to retire was given, Corporal Voss rallied his men and brought them out intact. When the New Zealanders broke through the German panzer ring at Minqar Qaim on the night of June 27, Sergeant-Major Naughton dismounted from his truck to straighten out a tangle of transport at one of the points where the convoy changed direction.