MEDALS AND DECORATIONS

Taihape Daily Times, 29 January 1919, Page 4

MEDALS AND DECORATIONS

THE LATEST INFORMATION.

WELLINGTON, this day

The Defence Department has received advice from His Excellency the Governor-General that Hie Majesty the King, has, been pleased to approve the issue of a special decoration to all troops who were in certain defined theatres of operations on duty with their units during the period August sth, 1914, till December 31st 1915, both dates inclusive. details of this award arc published in an Army Order of December 23rd. as follows:

(1) New decoration applies to those who have seryed in theatres of war between August sth, 1914, and December 31st, 1915, both dates inclusive. Those entitled to 1914 Star will not be eligible for the new decoration. (2) Decoration will bo star in bronze. (3) No clasp will be issued with Star. (4) Ribband will be red, white and blue shaded and watered. (5) Provided claims approved by Army Council, Star will b<e granted to all officers, warrant officers, non-com-missioned officers and men of British Dominion, Colonial and Indian Forces including civilians Medical Practitioners, Nursing Sisters, Nurses and others employed with Military Hospitals who actually ' seryed on the establishment of unit in a theatre of war., (6) Instructions as to submission of claims and disposal of Stars in case of Dominion, Colonial and Indian Forces will be issued by respective Governments. * The effect of this is that all New Zealand soldiers -who took part in the occupation of Samoa, on 29th August 1914, those who participated in the operations against the Turko-German forces in Egypt in 1915. or who took part in the operations at the Dardanelles, -will be entitled to this decoration. As soon as th'e full text of the Imperial Army Order comes to hand by mail —the details given above have been cabled- —a local General Order will he published. In the meantime the compilation of the rolls of those entitled to the awards has been put in hand.

A question having arisen as to the issue of the King’s badge and certificate to demobilised soldiers, the Defence Department cabled to England for the Army Council’s decision and the reply is that the Badge and certificate have only to be issued as at present and not to demobilised soldiers and th'e cable adds that ® special certificate of discharge will be issued later to all demobilised men