BRAVE NEW ZEALANDERS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 5, 7 January 1916, Page 3

BRAVE NEW ZEALANDERS.

DISTINGUISHED BERBICE ORDER

Among those whose gallantry and devotion to duty the King has recognised by approving their appointment as Companyions of the Distinguished Service Order a territorial officer, Captain Blair, of the Border Regiment, stands out prominently. He went out with a bombing party at Armentieres. when a party of 14 Germans attacked them. Coolly reserving his fire until the enemy were only ten yards away. Captain Blair shot four with his revolver, and only two of ,the Germans got away unwounded. More laurel have been won by the Artillery and Engineers. Those whom the King has honoured with D.S.O. include:—

Major Ivan Tatham Standish, No. 3 Battery, New Zealand Artillery, for conspicuous gallantry in the Gallipoli Peninsula on August 27-28, 1915. He was controlling the fire of a, very exposed section of guns, performing this duty on a flank under heavy fire, when one” of his guns was put out of action and a fire broke out round his ammunition pit. He at once left hts observing station, ran to the pit, and personally assisted in extinguishing the fire.

Captain Bertram Sibbald Finn, of the > New Zealand Medical- Corps, for conspicuous devotion to duty in the Gallipoli Peninsula during operation:.from August (I and 9, 1915, when he worked day an.d night with unceasing zeal and without rest evacuating the wounded. His work was carried out under continuous fire; on one occasion the dressing station being heavily shelled for an hour, and many assistants and wounded being hit. Owing to Captain Finn’s efforts the wounded lying in the more exposed positions were got into a place of greater safety.

Temporary Second - Lieutenant Robert McPherson, New Zealand Field Artillery, for conspicuous gallantry during operations in the Gallipoli Peninsula on August 27 and 28, 1915. His battery was heavily shelled by high explosive shells during an assault on Hill 00. One gun was put out of action, and a pit containing over 50 high explosive shells became surrounded by blazing brushwood.' One slight explosion had already takcn place when Second - Lieutenant McPherson, at grat prsonal risk, went down into the pit and assisted in extinguishing the fire.