BATTLE AWARDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 September 1941, Page 5

BATTLE AWARDS

MADE TO NEW ZEALANDERS For Deeds in Greece and Crete GALLANT OFFICERS AND MEN FINE LEADERSHIP AND INDIVIDUAL HEROISM (From I lie Official War Correspondent with the N.Z.E.F.) CAIRO, September 18. Thirty-two immediate awards for gallantry in action in the two Balkan campaigns fought by the N.Z.E.F. are published today. The awards are as follows: — GREECE. Distinguished Service Order: Major G. J. O. Stewart. Military Cross: Lieutenant W. F. Liley, Second-Lieuten-ant C. T. Mason, Second-Lieutenant. E. A. McPhail. Distinguished Conduct Modal: Bombadier E. W. Santi, Driver J. A. Snell. Military Medal: Warrant Officer, Second .Class, A. 11. Lockett, Sergeant G. Katene, Corporal J. -L AV. King, Corporal •J. Tainui, Bombardier G. F. Scoltock. Gunner If. R. Drinkwater, Gunner IL W. Bunton. Gunner T. W. J. Tombleson, Private A. V. Lee, Private •). E. Brock. Private A. 11. Todd, Private R. W. Common, Private A. IL Morrison, Private 11. E. Struthers, Private M. J. Richardson. Driver R. S. Grant. Driver J. G. Macdonald. CRETE. Distinguished Service Order: Lieutenant-Colonel 11. K. Kippenberger. Military Cross: Captain R. -J. Lynch, Captain C. N. Watson. Distinguished Conduct Medal: Lance-Sergeant V. D. Kirk, Corporal W. T. Weir. Military Medal: Temporary Warrant Officer, Second Class, N. C. Tasker, Lance-Sergeant E. 11. Elliott. Private Ty E. Duncan, Driver M. K. Gibbs.

COURAGE & ABILITY Stories of extraordinary courage coolness and skill lie behind the first list of awards made to New Zealanders who fought in Crete. The deeds which won these awards range from consistent tactical ability of the commanding officers to individual acts of bravery by the men. Lieutenant - Colonel Kippenberger; who commanded a composite brigade, was awarded the D.S.O. for his “complete disregard of danger, energetic and aggressive spirit and considerable tactical skill in organising counterattacks and repelling determined enemy attacks made under cover of severe enemy air attacks and trenci mortar and machine-gun fire. Though suffering from loss of sleep and a sprained ankle, he showed quick appreciation and cool courage in meeting determined enemy attacks at Galatos on May 25 and when our line was practically broken he was almost entirely responsible for checking the enemy advance and establishing a new line in the rear. His work throughout was of the highest order.” Captain Lynch distinguished himself in the same action. As a company commander he maintained his position for six hours, during which time he was twice driven off, but recaptured the position on both occasions by skilfully planned and executed counterattacks. Subsequently he withdrew his company in good order to a rear position, checking the enemy sharply on the way. On May 29, at Ashiphio, with a weak company he completely held up the enemy advance for five hours. His leadership, power of command and personal example throughout were outstanding. Captain Watson is commended for outstanding qualities of leadership, tenacity and skill in handling his company, and at one stage a whole battalion. His personal example, continuous and conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty, extreme coolness, contempt for danger under heavy sustained fire and the quick decisions he made on the spot were an inspiration to his officers and men. At Malemi on May 22 his men, suffering heavy casualties, were forced to evacuate an important line of posts. Despite intense mortar, machine-gun and pompom fire, Captain Watson and his storeman, bj r the skilful use of tommyguns, drove back the enemy, who were about to penetrate up a covered ravine, and enabled our troops to reoccupy their original positions. Later he led a successful counter-attack, with the result that this vital position could be held for a further two days. BRAVE & BRILLIANT Brave and brilliant initiative in the thickest of Crete fighting won for an infantry sergeant and a cavalry corporal the immediate award of the D.C.M. The first was cited for exceptional gallantry, coolness and skill, the second for conspicuous gallantry. Lance-Sergeant Kirk was in a.leading platoon during the memorable attack on Malemi on May 22 by South Islanders and Maoris. With his section he fought his way forward with continuous engagements over two miles, displaying the utmost resolution and repeatedly rushing and destroying machine-gun posts. Then with an officer he went on a highly dangerous journey through 600 yards of enemyoccupied ground, shooting a German on the way and bringing safely back about 100 men who would otherwise have been cut off. When his company was outflanked at Galatos three days later, Lance-Sergeant Kirk organised a party and led a counter-attack with complete success. Forty-four Germans were killed, 11 of them by Lance-Ser-geant Kirk himself. Being separated from his company, he next took his party into the counter-attack made on Galatos by another South Island battalion. After disposing of a large number of the enemy he remained in a position on the outskirts of the town till 5.30 a.m. the next morning, when he found that all the other troops had withdrawn. He skilfully led his men out and rejoined his unit. GOOD USE OF ENEMY GUN Cavalry Corporal Weir was with his unit defending the western boundary of Galatos on May 22, when the enemy made a strong attack and thrust back our right flank, exposing the village. At great personal risk Corporal Weir covered the withdrawal with a cap--tured enemy maxim gun with which he had acquainted himself. His action gave our troops time to organise a counter-attack whereby they recaptured their original positions. Later he. instructed others in the use of the

maxims, which proved invaluable. The citation says that during the whole of the Crete campaign his devotion to duty, example and initiative were outstanding and an inspiration to others. Warrant Officer Tasker's award is for conspicuous devotion to duty, courage, initiative and resource of the highest order throughout the campaigns of both Greece and Crete. At Rapsane on April 18, when with a section of guns heavily engaged in beating off advancing enemy tanks, he saw German infantry enfilading the guns. With a Bren gun he engaged them accurately from an open position, thus effectively covering the gun teams. With his ammunition expended, he was forced to withdraw under heavy fire, but took the rear gun safely back to his battery. As a platoon commander of “infantillery” in Crete, his eagerness to join every patrol, his coolness, tactful leadership, and encouragement to men under heavy fire* were instrumental at Galatos on May 25 in enabling contact to be broken with the enemy only 150 yards away and an orderly withdrawal to be conducted without loss. RESCUE UNDER FIRE Lance-Sergeant Elliott, of the engineers, performed an act of outstanding bravery, carrying a wounded man to safey on May 23. He moved over a very exposed area through heavy enemy fire to rescue a sapper who had been wounded while stalking a German post. Unaided, he carried the wounded man fifty yards to a covering ridge. The sapper was hit by two more bullets during the rescue. Throughout the actions in Greece and Crete Lance-Sergeant Elliott was cool, daring and an example to his men, says the citation. A VALIANT MAORI Courage and initiative were displayed by Private Duncan, who is a Maori. On May 22 he was required to go out and take individual action against two or three parachutists who landed in front of the battalion line, and he accounted for at least two. Next day at Malemi he volunteered to silence an enemy machine-gun post which was troubling his company. Single-handed he closed with the post and bombed it, killing nine Germans and capturing the gun and its ammunition, which subsequently were used against the enemy. Driver Gibbs, like Corporal Weir, Warrant Officer Tasker and LanceSergenat Elliott, gave a shining example of the courage shown in Crete by non-infantrymen who were given infantry jobs. Driver Gibbs is an A.S.C. driver, but he and a comrade became a light machine-gun team. For six days they handled the gun with skill and determination, inflicting a heavy toll on the enemy. Then on May 25 his team mate died. Driver Gibbs kept the gun in action under intense accurate rifle, machine-gun and mortar fire till ordered to withdraw, but even then covered his retiring platoon doggedly and effectively and only made his way toward the rear when the enemy forced him back with hand-grenades. The citation says he was outstanding for coolness, courage and efficiency, and the beneficial influence on his comrade could not be overlooked. He was wounded in the left arm.