18 August 2008
Seventeen commendations are to be presented to New Zealand Army Veterans (or their next of kin) in ceremonies around the country this week.
The 15 “Mentioned-in-Despatches” and two Commander in Chief Far East Land Forces Commendations recognise distinguished service in Malaya in the 1950’s and 60’s.
They will be formally recognised at four ceremonies in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch and will be attended by the Chief of Army Major General Lou Gardiner during 19-22 August.
Framed certificates of the official London Gazette record of “Mentioned-in-Despatches” are to be awarded to the following veterans or, as many recipients are now deceased, their next of kin:
PTE H Boylan (Invercargill)
SGT B Hill (Hamilton)
CPL N Sinclair (Tauranga)
LT K Gordon, CPL N Kawha (Tauranga)
LT B Marshall (Wellington)
MAJ RI Thorpe (Rotorua)
MAJ RWK Ainge (Christchurch) – to be presented to next of kin
MAJ B Boyd (Devonport) – to be presented to next of kin
WO 2 GE Butler (Wellington) – to be presented to next of kin
WO 2 PRK Carrington (Opotiki) – to be presented to next of kin
CPL RH Cassidy (Kaikohe) – to be presented to next of kin
LTCOL WRK Morrison (Devonport) – to be presented to next of kin
CPL WA McGee (Taumaranui) – to be presented to next of kin
CAPT D McLeod (Oamaru) – to be presented to next of kin
Commander in Chief Far East Land Forces
Commendations are to be awarded to:
PTE WTP Nathan (Kaitaia),
SGT L Hepi (Palmerston North) – to be presented to next of kin.
The awards were given to the recipients after the campaign but were never formally presented and the Army is conducting these ceremonies to rectify the error.
The certificates are identical to contemporary awards. Soldiers wear a bronze oak leaf on their medal ribbon bar to signify they have been Mentioned-in-Despatches.
ENDS
For further information or for media wishing to register their interest in attending one of the ceremonies, please contact Bas Bolyn, Army Public Relations on 04 496 0285 or 021 478 574.
What: 17 historic commendations presented to veterans or their next-of-kin.
Where and When: Auckland (19 Aug 2-3pm), Tauranga (20 Aug 11am-12pm), Wellington (21 Aug 2-3pm), Burnham (22 Aug 11am-12pm).
Who: Chief of Army, Major General Lou Gardiner and Veterans of the Malaya campaign and their families.
Background
Thousands of New Zealanders fought in the Malayan Emergency and Borneo Confrontation. Overshadowed by the impending Vietnam War, the conflicts are often referred to as the “forgotten wars”. The counter insurgency campaign took place mainly in dense jungle as the Commonwealth fought the communist terrorists, and then went on to fight with Malaya in a military confrontation with Indonesia.