MAORI WAR VETERAN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 393, 19 May 1910, Page 8

MAORI WAR VETERAN

DECORATED BY THE HOME AUTHORITIES. By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. Members of the Military Stores Department assembled in full force in the Cabinet room to-day to witness the presentation by the Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward) to Sergeant-Major Walter Christie of tihe Imperial service medal recently conferred upon him by the Home authorities as a mark of recognition of his long and meritorious services. Sergeant-Major Christie, said Sir Joseph Ward, was also the holder of the New Zealand war medal, the New Zealand long service medal, and the colonial auxiliary forces long service medal. He joined tile forces in 1803, and served with the troops during tihe Maori war. During the attack on Pua Pa, Opotiki, ihe was stationed near Captain John Percy, who was hit in the groin by a bullet. The sergeant-major, at great personal risk, carried his officer into the nearest cover, rendered "first aid" under fire, and then carried the officer to the ambulance party, it may be added that the Imperial service medal was only instituted by His late Majesty King Edward VII. towards the end of 1908, and that Sergeant-Major Christie is the first person in New Zealand on whom it has been conferred. Amid applause, Sir Joseph Ward pinned the medial on tile veteran's breast.