Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Thursday 9 January 1947, page 5


Duke Presents Three

V.C. Awards

In a brief, almost intimate in vestiture ceremony at Admirait; House yesterday morning, th Governor-General, thc Duke o Gloucester, presented Victori: Crosses won by three Austra Hans during the Second Worh

War. .

Two of thc V.C.s had be awarded posthumously. These we won. by Lieutenant A. Chowne (t recipient yesterday was his wido Mrs. D. M. Chowne) and Corporal B. Mackey (received by his - sisti Miss P. Mackey).

A Military Medal won by Lie tenant Chowne was also presented.

Lieutenant-Colonej C. G. > Anderson, M.C., received the Vi loria Cross in person.

After thc ceremony, the Governc General arid the Duchess of Gio cester chatted with the recipients ( the east terrace of Admiralty Hous

The Victoria Cross citatio

were:

BRAVE LEADERSHIP.

Ueut.-Colonel Anderson.-During t operations in Malaya from January to 22, 1942, Lieut.-Colonel Anderson, command of a small force, was sent restore a vital position and to assist

brigade.

His force destroyed ten enemy tani When later cut off, he defeated persiste attacks^ on his position from air ai ground forces, and forced his w¡ through the enemy,lines to a depth < 15; miles. He was again surrounded ai subjected to very heavy and freque attacks resulting in severe casualties

his force. He personally led. an atta< with great gallantry, on the enemy, wt were holding a bridge^ and succeeded

destroying four guns. Lieut.-Colon Anderson, throughout all this flghtin protected his wounded and refused I

leave them.

He obtained news by wireless of Ü enemy position and attempted to figl his way back through eight miles ( enemy-occupied country. This prove to be impossible, and the enemy wa holding too strong a position for an attempt lo be made to relieve him.

On January 19 Lieut.-Colohcl Andel son was ordered to destroy his equir. ment and make his way back as best h could round the enemy position.

Throughout the fighting, which lastei for four days, he set a magnificent ex ample of brave leadership, determination and outstanding courage. He not onl; showed fighting qualities of a very higl order, but throughout exposed himsel to danger without any regard to his owr personal safety.

NEW GUINEA ATTACK

Lieutenant Chowne.-For most con-spicuous bravery, brilliant leadership, and devotion to duty during an attach on an enemy position on a narrow ridg« near Dagua, New Guinea, on Maret

25, 1945.

. After the capture of Dagua, the mair enemy force withdrew southwards fronthe beach to previously prepared posi-tions, on the flank of the division. Fur-ther movement towards Wewak was impossible while this threat to the flank existed and the battalion was ordered tc destroy the enemy force,

j "A" Company, after making contaa with the enemy on a narrow ridge, wa< j ordered to attack the position. Th{

leading platoon in the attack came undet heavy fire from concealed enemy mach-ine guns sited on a small rise dominating the approach. In the initial approach one member pf this platoon was killed and nine wounded, including the platoon commander, and the enemy continued to inflict casualties on our troops.

Without awaiting orders, Lieutenant Chowne, whose platoon was in reserve, instantly appreciated the plight of the leading platoon and rushed the enemy's position. Running up a steep, narrow track, he hurled grenades which knocked out two enemy light machine guns. Then, calling on his men to follow him, and firing his sub-machine gun from the hip, he charged the enemy's position.

J Although he sustained two serious ? wounds in the chest, the impetus of his

charge carried him 50 yards forward under the most intense machine-gun and rifle fire. Lieutenant Chowne accounted for two more Japanese before he was i killed standing over three foxholes occu-pied, by the enemy. ?

The superb heroism and self-sacrifice of this officer culminating in his death, resulted in the capture of this stronglyheld enemy position, ensured the further immediate success of his company in this area, and paved (he way directly for the continuance of the division's advance

to Wewak.

CHARGE AT TARAKAN

Corporal Mackey.-For most con-spicuous bravery In the face of strong enemy resistance in the attack on the Helen feature at Tarakan on May 12,

1945.

Corporal Mackey was in charge of a section of the 2/3 Australian Pioneer Battalion in the attack on the feature known as Helen, east of Tarakan town. Led by Corporal Mackey, the section moved along a narrow spur with scarcely width for more than one man to move when it came under fire from three well-sited positions near the top of a very steep razor-backed ridge. The ground fell away almost sheer on each side of the track, making it almost im-possible to move to a flank, so Corporal Mackey led his men forward.

He charged the first light machine-gun position but slipped and, after wrestling with one enemy, bayoneted him, and charged straight on to the heavy mach-ine gun which was firing from a bunker position six yards to his right. He rushed this post and killed the crew with grenades.

He then jumped back and changing his rifle for a sub-machine gun he at-tacked further up the steep slope an-other light machine-gun position, which was firing on his platoon. Whilst charg-ing he fired his gun and reached within a few feet of the enemy position when he was killed by light machine-gun fire, but not before he had killed two more enemy..

By his exceptional bravery and com-plete disregard for his own life, Cor-poral Mackey was largely responsible for the killing of seven Japanese and the elimination of two machine-gun posts, which enabled his platoon to gain its objective. His fearless action and out-standing courage were an inspiration to the whole battalion.

ACCOLADE ADMINISTERED The Governor-General yesterday morn-ing also administered the accolade of a Knight Commander of the Royal Vic-torian Order (K.C.V.O.) to Rear-Admiral Leighton Seymour Bracegirdle, C.M.G., D.S.O., official secretary to his Royal

Highness.

He also presented the following decorations:

Royal Victorian Order, 4th Class

(M.V.O.)

Professor Bruce Toomba Mayes, for personal services rendered to their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester as honorary surgeon in Aus-tralia.

Mr. Ashleigh Osborne Davy, for per-sonal services rendered to their Royal Highnesses the Duke' and Duchess of Gloucester and Prince William as hono-rary specialist in ' Australia.

Dr, Clyde Cecil Finlay, for personal services rendered to their Royal High-nesses the Duke and Duchess of Glou-cester, Prince William, and Prince Rich-ard, as honorary physician to the House-hold at Government House, Canberra.

Royal Victorian Order, 5th Class

(M.V.O.).

Superintendent George William Arnold, R.V.M., New South Wales Police, for outstanding services rendered personally to his Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, in Australia.

Mr. Charles Edmund Frank Roach, Commonwealth Transport Officer, for outstanding services rendered personally to his Royal Highness the Duke of

Gloucester, in Australia. ¡