Aug. 24] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 1033

Dated 30th June, 1944—
Mervyn James SPARKS.
Malcolm Cyprian BRIDGE.
Percy Charles BURROWS.
Dated 1st July, 1944—
Alexander KANE.
Eric Thomas SCHMIDT.
Dated 2nd July, 1944—
Charles Harold LUMSDEN.
Kenneth George EDGINGTON.
Dated 3rd July, 1944: Ronald Wright ALLAN.
Dated 5th July, 1944—
Alister Keith SAUNDERS, D.F.C.
Wilfred John MYGIND.
Dated 6th July, 1944: Frank Brewster LAWLESS.
Dated 8th July, 1944—
Leo Alexander Charles RUSSELL.
Frank Maurice SPEDDING.
Dated 9th July, 1944: Herbert William Bernard PATTERSON.
Dated 10th July, 1944—
Cyril William MCCARDLE.
William Harcourt JONES.

Transfers

The undermentioned officers are transferred from the Administrative and Special Duties Branch to the General Duties Branch in their present rank. Dated 14th July, 1944:—

As Navigators—
Pilot Officer Eric Charles Russell PENNALLIGEN.
Pilot Officer Frank Lloyd CHAPMAN.

As Wireless Operator/Air Gunner—
Pilot Officer Harold Jack PRIOR.

As Air Bomber—
Pilot Officer John Duncan WHITE.

As Air Gunner—
Pilot Officer Loftus Bernard REA.

Reduction in Seniority

Pilot Officer John Stanley GILLAM was dealt with summarily under section 47 of the Air Force Act, and was sentenced to take rank and precedence as if his appointment as Pilot Officer bore date the 7th July, 1944. Dated 10th July, 1944.

Amendments

The notice appearing in the New Zealand Gazette No. 44, dated 1st June, 1944, page 633, under the heading “General Duties Branch, Appointments—As Navigator”, relating to “NZ 2215 Flight Lieutenant Ian Ronald Gow”, is amended to read “As Pilot”.

The notice appearing in the New Zealand Gazette No. 64, dated 27th July, 1944, page 921, under the heading “General Duties Branch, Transfers—As Pilot”, relating to “Pilot Officer Archibald Gerrard McLAUCHLAN”, is amended to read “As Navigator”.

EQUIPMENT BRANCH, SECTION I: EQUIPMENT OFFICERS

Relinquishment

Flying Officer Norman Raymond GUNN is permitted to relinquish his temporary commission. Dated 8th August, 1944.

EQUIPMENT BRANCH, SECTION II: TECHNICAL OFFICERS

Promotions

The undermentioned Pilot Officers to be Flying Officers (temp.):—

Radar Duties—
Dated 6th July, 1944—
James Ferguson FISH.
Charles Douglas GEORGE.
Albert Edgar LARCOMBE.
Lawrence Montague LAYZELL.
David McWHA.
Weston Woods MAHOOD.
Owen James MORGAN.
Roger Allen STEWART.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND SPECIAL DUTIES BRANCH

Appointment

NZ 2295 John Herbert KEMNITZ, on relinquishing his commission in the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, is granted a temporary commission in the rank of Flying Officer with seniority as from 2nd July, 1942. Dated 1st January, 1944.

Promotion

Pilot Officer Hewton Oswald AMESS to be Flying Officer (temp.). Dated 8th June, 1944.

MEDICAL BRANCH

Appointments

The undermentioned are granted temporary commissions in the rank of Flying Officer:—

Dated 10th July, 1944.
NZ 2272 Alan SMITH, M.B., Ch.B.

Dated 17th July, 1944—
NZ 2294 Anthony Crowley SANDSTON, M.B., Ch.B.
NZ 2292 Sidney Caslake HAWES, M.B., Ch.B.
NZ 2293 Robert Flaxley MULLIGAN, M.B., Ch.B.

Dated 19th July, 1944—
NZ 2296 Sholto Grant FARIS, M.B., Ch.B.

Promotion

Flight Lieutenant (Acting Squadron Leader) Gavin Hannay FORREST, M.B., Ch.B., to be Squadron Leader (temp.) and to be Acting Wing Commander (paid). Dated 10th July, 1944.

RESERVE OF AIR FORCE OFFICERS

Transfers

The undermentioned officers are transferred from the Active List to the Reserve of Air Force Officers, Class A, Section I:—
Dated 5th August, 1944: Flying Officer Gilbert Mackay HAASE.
Dated 9th August, 1944: Pilot Officer Lionel Grace MORAN.
Dated 12th August, 1944—
Flight Lieutenant Thomas Riddiford Martin WILLIS.
Flying Officer Harry O'Brian LIVER, D.F.C.

The undermentioned officers are transferred from the Active List to the Reserve of Air Force Officers, Class B, Section I:—
Dated 3rd August, 1944: Flight Lieutenant Harold OWERS.
Dated 7th August, 1944: Flying Officer David BARNES.
Dated 5th August, 1944: Flying Officer Peter Gale HENRY.
Dated 12th August, 1944: Flying Officer Leonard Barrington FRANICH.

Corrigenda

In the notice appearing in the New Zealand Gazette No. 57, dated 6th July, 1944, page 858, under the heading “Administrative and Special Duties Branch, Section II (A.T.C.)—Appointments”, for “George Alexander MILLS”, read “Gilbert Alexander MILLS”.

In the notice appearing in the New Zealand Gazette No. 30, dated 13th April, 1944, page 361, under the heading “General Duties Branch, Appointments—As Pilot”, relating to “NZ 416178 Flight Sergeant William Archibald STEEL”, for “Dated 9th February, 1944”, read “Dated 19th February, 1944”.

In the notices appearing in the New Zealand Gazette No. 92, dated 15th October, 1942, page 2484, under the heading “General Duties Branch—Appointments”, and the New Zealand Gazette No. 37, dated 20th July, 1943, page 549, under the heading “General Duties Branch—Promotions”, relating to “Leonard Arthur KILGOUR”, read “Leonard Alfred Arthur KILGOUR”.

In the notices appearing in the New Zealand Gazette No. 64, dated 27th July, 1944, page 921, under the heading “General Duties Branch—Appointments”, relating to the undermentioned officers—

For “NZ 2186 Alexander Stewart BALLINGALL” read “NZ 2286 Alexander Stewart BALLINGALL”.
For “NZ 2185 Donald Fraser WILSON” read “NZ 2285 Donald Fraser WILSON”.

In the notice appearing in the New Zealand Gazette No. 64, dated 27th July, 1944, page 921, under the heading “Administrative and Special Duties Branch—Appointment”, relating to “NZ 2189 Claude Maurice Hoare BENNETT”, read “NZ 2289 Claude Maurice Hoare BENNETT”.

In the notices appearing in the New Zealand Gazette No. 64, dated 27th July, 1944, page 922, under the heading “General Duties Branch—Appointments”, relating to the undermentioned officers—

For “NZ 2187 Robert William STEELE” read “NZ 2287 Robert William STEELE”.
For “NZ 2188 Ronald William Arthur YORKE” read “NZ 2288 Ronald William Arthur YORKE”.

F. JONES, Minister of Defence.

Honours and Awards approved by His Majesty the King

Office of the Minister of Defence,
Wellington, 26th July, 1944.

HIS Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve the following immediate appointment and award in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty in operations against the enemy:—

To be a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order

Wing Commander Charles William Kelvin Nicholls (RAF 34224), of England.

On the 9th February, 1944, Wing Commander Nicholls was appointed Officer Commanding, Royal New Zealand Air Force Fighter Wing, and Officer in Charge, Fighter Operations, Torokina. During the Japanese shelling of the Bougainville bridgehead between 8th March and 15th April, Wing Commander Nicholls earned unstinted praise from the United States Commanders for his masterly handling of the many squadrons, both Royal New Zealand Air Force and American, based on his airfield. Although constantly subjected to enemy fire, he showed complete disregard for his personal safety, and was always on the airfield when flying was in progress. It was due primarily to his untiring efforts that continued air operations against the enemy were possible from this base. Besides most efficiently carrying out his arduous duties as Controller of the Airfield, Wing Commander Nicholls took part in twenty-one operational missions against the enemy, most of them as leader of a fighter wing. Towards the latter part of his tour of duty, when enemy opposition had decreased, he was asked by the American authorities to fit bomb-racks to the Warhawk aircraft, and to train the Wing as fighter-bombers. The care and thought which he devoted to this task were shown in the high standard of bombing achieved. Wing Commander Nicholls himself led the first fighter-bomber mission against Rabaul and, although subjected to accurate and intense anti-aircraft fire, the attack was pressed home with conspicuous success. By his unyielding devotion to duty, cheerful demeanour, and complete disregard for his own personal safety Wing Commander Nicholls set a fine example which was a constant source of inspiration to the squadrons under his command, and by his efforts he organized, trained, and led a fighter-bomber wing of exceptionally high standard.