Feb. 8] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE 125

Frederick George Walters to be Hon. 2nd Lieutenant. Dated 19th January, 1945.
Harold George Whittingham Bagley to be temp. 2nd Lieutenant. Dated 31st January, 1945.

TERRITORIAL FORCE
N.Z. ARMOURED CORPS
2nd N.Z. Armoured Regiment

With reference to the notice published in the New Zealand Gazette No. 84, dated 19th October, 1944, relative to temp. Captain C. E. H. Menzies, for “is posted to the Retired List with the rank of Major,” substitute “is posted to the retired List with the rank of Captain.”

N.Z. Artillery

Temp. Captain K. N. Price relinquishes his commission on appointment to the Royal N.Z. Navy. Dated 12th August, 1943.
Temp. Lieutenant S. I. Kidd to be temp. Captain. Dated 1st January, 1945.
Temp. Lieutenant L. J. McCarthy relinquishes his commission on appointment to the Royal N.Z. Air Force. Dated 31st December, 1943.
Temp. 2nd Lieutenant T. P. Troy relinquishes his commission. Dated 2nd February, 1943.

N.Z. INFANTRY
The Otago Regiment

Temp. Lieutenant-Colonel S. S. H. Berkeley is posted to the Retired List with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Dated 19th January, 1945.

The N.Z. Scottish Regiment

Temp. Lieutenant C. D. Standage is posted to the Retired List with the rank of Captain. Dated 17th January, 1945.

N.Z. ARMY NURSING SERVICE

Temp. Charge Sister M. Barber is posted to the Retired List with the rank of Charge Sister. Dated 17th January, 1945.
Sister J. M. Hobson (née McKellar) is posted to the Retired List. Dated 20th January, 1945.

N.Z. WOMEN’S ARMY AUXILIARY CORPS

Subaltern F. M. Crooke to be temp. Junior Commander. Dated 8th January, 1945.
Thelma Evelyn Habberfield-Short to be 2nd Subaltern. Dated 18th December, 1944.

OFFICERS CEASING TO BE SECONDED TO THE 2ND NEW ZEALAND EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Lieutenant-Colonel S. S. H. Berkeley, and is reposted to The Otago Regiment with the temporary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, with seniority from 27th September, 1943. Dated 19th January, 1945.

Major A. J. D. Morten, and is reposted to the N.Z. Armoured Corps with the temporary rank of Major, with seniority from 4th November, 1942. Dated 26th December, 1944.

Captain D. W. Stewart, and is reposted to the N.Z. Permanent Staff. Dated 15th November, 1944.

Temp. Captain L. M. Myers, and is reposted to the N.Z. Temporary Staff with the temporary rank of Lieutenant. Dated 11th January, 1945.

Captain H. R. Surman, and is reposted to The Hauraki Regiment with the temporary rank of Captain, with seniority from 18th September, 1944. Dated 17th January, 1945.

Lieutenant P. T. B. Morris, and is reposted to The North Auckland Regiment with the temporary rank of Lieutenant, with seniority from 1st April, 1943. Dated 25th May, 1944.

Lieutenant C. D. Standage, and is reposted to The N.Z. Scottish Regiment with the temporary rank of Lieutenant, with seniority from 4th November, 1942. Dated 17th January, 1945.

Sister M. Barber, N.Z. Army Nursing Service, and is reposted to the Territorial Force with the temporary rank of Charge Sister, with seniority from 9th May, 1941. Dated 17th January, 1945.

OFFICERS STRUCK OFF THE STRENGTH OF THE 2ND NEW ZEALAND EXPEDITIONARY FORCE

Captain G. R. Surgenor, and is posted to the N.Z. Army Service Corps with the temporary rank of Captain, with seniority from 1st May, 1944. Dated 20th December, 1944.

Captain H. M. Denton, and is posted to the Reserve of Officers, Supplementary List. Dated 3rd January, 1945.

Captain J. F. B. Stronach, and is posted to the Retired List. Dated 17th January, 1945.

Captain D. Elder, and is posted to The Auckland Regiment (Countess of Ranfurly’s Own) with the temporary rank of Captain, with seniority from 1st December, 1943. Dated 17th January, 1945.

Lieutenant (Acting-Captain) S. G. Pearce, and is posted to the Retired List with the rank of Captain. Dated 18th January, 1945.

Lieutenant (temp. Captain) J. C. Fraser, and is posted to the Retired List with the rank of Captain. Dated 18th January, 1945.

2nd Lieutenant F. Brewer, and is reposted to the Reserve of Officers, Supplementary List. Dated 17th December, 1944.

2nd Lieutenant J. McKenzie, B.E.M., and is posted to the N.Z. Corps of Signals with the temporary rank of 2nd Lieutenant, with seniority from 1st May, 1943. Dated 19th January, 1945.

Subaltern M. D. Routledge (née Grigg), and is posted to the Retired List. Dated 19th November, 1944.

F. JONES, Minister of Defence.

Honours and Awards approved by His Majesty the King

Office of the Minister of Defence,
Wellington, 4th December, 1944.

His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve the following immediate awards, in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty in air operations against the enemy:—

Distinguished Flying Cross

Flight Lieutenant Frederick Norman Rhys Thomas (NZ 40993), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Nelson.

By his courage, skill, and determination in the face of danger this captain nursed his severely damaged bomber aircraft for two hours, and made a brilliant landing without further damage on an emergency strip only 1,800 ft. long. Captain of one of three aircraft detailed to bomb a Japanese supply area in the Bismarck area at dawn on 9th September, 1944, Flight Lieutenant Thomas reached his target after flying through darkness, heavy rain, and thunderstorms. He immediately attacked with courage and determination. Two bombs hung up on his first run, and he therefore strafed his way round the target area and made a further run, in the face of heavy enemy fire, to release his remaining bombs. As they dropped in the target area, his starboard engine cut out, the main fuel line having been shot away by anti-aircraft fire. Flight Lieutenant Thomas was faced with exceptional difficulty. Extremely bad weather on the direct course to base made it undesirable to attempt the return on one motor, and loss of power prevented a crossing of the highlands of New Ireland. Accordingly, he set course for an emergency strip at Talasea, New Britain. It was doubtful in the extreme if the aircraft would remain in the air, and it was only by the pilot’s determination and skill in making use of up-currents below cumulus clouds that he kept sufficient altitude throughout a most hazardous flight of two hours’ duration. His landing was an outstanding achievement, particularly with only one engine, and throughout he displayed the utmost coolness and courage. Flight Lieutenant Thomas has completed over two hundred and sixty hours’ operational flying in the Pacific in the past year.

19th December, 1944

Flight Lieutenant Jack Plummer (NZ 42451), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Wellington.

Flight Lieutenant Stanley Bruce de Vere (NZ 413037), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Auckland.

His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve the following award, in recognition of gallantry and devotion to duty in air operations against the enemy:—

2nd January, 1945

Distinguished Flying Cross

Flying Officer Basil John Francis Bretherton (NZ 392010), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Cromwell.

His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve the following appointments and award :—

2nd January, 1945

To be an Additional Officer of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Acting Squadron Leader Samuel Jackson Madill, D.F.C. (NZ 404395), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Auckland.

To be an Additional Member of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire

Flight Lieutenant John Pearce Horsley (NZ 36122), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Auckland.

British Empire Medal (for Meritorious Service)

NZ 43929 L.A.C. Gordon Stewart Parsonson, Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Nelson.

His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards:—

2nd January, 1945

Air Force Cross

Flight Lieutenant Reginald William Horace Carter (NZ 2179), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Feilding.

Flight Lieutenant Cecil Halliday Fox (NZ 403958), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Hamilton.

Flight Lieutenant Donald Malcolm MacKenzie (NZ 401776), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Hamilton.

Acting Flight Lieutenant James Frederick Taylor (NZ 411952), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Auckland.

Pilot Officer George Francis (NZ 405226), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Perth.

Pilot Officer Leonard Cecil Sadler (NZ 402447), Royal New Zealand Air Force, of Christchurch.