BATTLE HONOURS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 June 1943, Page 3

BATTLE HONOURS

AWARDED TO NEW ZEALAND SOLDIERS DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL. WON BY VALIANT MAORI SERGEANT. (Official War Correspondent. N.Z.E.F.) CAIRO, June 13. One Distinguished Conduct Medal, two Military Medals, and a bar to a Military Medal are announced in the latest list of gallantry awards to members of the N.Z.E.F. The story of the ascent of the steep sides of Takrouna and the bitter lighting which won and held the pinnacle hill fortress in northern Tunisia during the New Zealand attack is told in the citation for a Rotorua Maori, Sergeant H. Manahi, who wins the D.C.M. for cool judgement, resolute determination and outstanding personal bravery in this spectacular assault.

The citation gives a detailed account of the action and states that the courageous action of Sergeant Manahi and the men under his command undoubtedly led to the ultimate collapse of the enemy defence and thei capture of the whole of the Takrouna feature with prisoners and equipment, Even then Manahi refused to return to his battalion and remained on the feature during the night, assisting with the evacuation of the dead and wounded. Manahi had made a supreme contribution to the capture, and the holding of the feature was vittal to the operation.

Signalman G. J. Nilsen is awarded a bar to his Military Medal for gallantry in laying and maintaining signal wires during the same action, and another member of the New Zealand Divisional Signals, Corporal A. G. Davies; Coromandel, receives the Military Medal for similarly outstanding work in maintaining communications during the battle of Takrouna.

The Military Medal is also awarded to Sergeant W. R. Brown, Christchurch, of the Divisional Cavalry, for gallantry during the attack through the Tebaga gap toward El Hamma and again during the battle of the Gabes Gap.