AWARDS FOR BRAVERY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 November 1940, Page 4

AWARDS FOR BRAVERY

NEW ZEALANDERS IN AIR FORCE FIFTY DECORATIONS SINCE WAR STARTED. COMMENT BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day. Advice of the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Acting Flight Lieutenant Lloyd Watt Coleman has been received by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones. Flight Lieutenant Coleman is the son of Mrs. H. N. Coleman, Havelock North, and it is understood that he took a prominent part in the recent big Royal Air Force raid on Munich. Mr. Jones said that this award brought the total number of Air Force decorations awarded to New Zealanders since the outbreak of war to 50. This number was made up of 39 Distinguished Flying Crosses, including two with bar, four Distinguished Flyings Medals, six Air Force Crosses and one Croix de Guerre. The Dominion could be justly proud of the work being performed by New Zealanders serving with the Royal Air Force. “We can say quite definitely that the honours board reads ‘50 —not out’.” said Mr. Jones, “for the men we are training here give every indication that they will fully live up to the outstanding record established by those who have preceded them overseas and who are continuing to score success after success.

“The blows the Royal Ar Force is inflicting on the enemy are very considerable in both weight and importance and New Zealand can reasonably be proud that our boys are able to play such a part in the Empire's fight for freedom.” FURTHER AWARDS. FOUR MORE NEW ZEALANDERS. LONDON, November 23. Ninety-seven Distinguished Flying Crosses and Medals have been awarded. The recipients include three New Zealanders —Flight Lieutenant Frederick John Lucus, Dunedin; Flying Officer William Maurice Chalk Williams, Napier; and Pilot Officer Donald Joseph Harkness, Midhirst —all members of the R.N.Z.A.F. Acting Flight Lieutenant Cecil Dunn Milne. R.A.F., of Petone, has been awarded the D.F.C.