Sergeant C. P. Carew, MM; Masterton; born Christchurch, 20 Nov 1918; french polisher. (Source: Murphy, W.E. 2nd NZ Divisional Artillery. p.358.)

'On 30 August 5 Brigade changed places with 132 Brigade within the NZ Box and the 5th Field and 58th Field did likewise that night, while 32 Battery, already at Halfa, stayed where it was. Enemy shelling as 30 Battery got ready to move killed two men and wounded two and the 58th also suffered loss. Gunners Carew and Derrett of 30 Battery both won an MM this night. Several drivers were hit and their quads were therefore immobilised under heavy fire, a desperate situation. Volunteers offered to drive, Derrett among them, though he was ‘badly and painfully wounded in both feet and the chest’ (to quote his citation). He had to be lifted into the driving seat and mustered his waning powers sufficiently to drive the gun crew together with some wounded drivers, as well as the gun and trailer, through the curtain of fire to an RAP. When he reached there he was on the verge of collapse. Carew's action was less dramatic, but it was typical of the selfless devotion he showed throughout the campaign. He went from his own E3, of which he was a crew member (as well as being the troop medical orderly) to E1 as soon as he heard there were casualties there needing attention. In so doing he had to pass through the thick of the shelling and did so unhesitatingly. He administered first aid and stayed until the wounded could be evacuated, when he managed to get on the last truck of his troop to depart for the new area. Sergeant C. P. Carew, MM; Masterton; born Christchurch, 20 Nov 1918; french polisher.; Alam Halfa and Alamein - The enemy shellfire also caught the artillery reliefs. Careful liaison had been made on the CRA's direction to ensure that the exchange of gun positions between 58 Field Regiment, RA, and 6 NZ Field Regiment should take place in such a way that the maximum possible number of guns would be able to fire in support of the front at any moment. One of the NZ batteries, the 29th, had been set a task in 6 Brigade's raid and its relief was to wait until this task had been completed. With the other two batteries, the 30th and the 48th, the exchange of guns with 58 Field Regiment had begun on time and was proceeding smoothly when shells began to drop around 30 Battery's gun pits. Some of the relieving guns had just been wheeled into the pits, others were still on tow, while several NZ guns and quads were being lined up in convoy ready for the journey out. The first shells caught many of the gunners above ground, causing several casualties, principally among the drivers standing by their vehicles. NZ casualties were two killed and four seriously wounded, but this total might have been higher had not two of the gunners, C. P. Carew and W. A. Derrett, the latter himself wounded, braved the shellfire to clear both guns and wounded from the danger area. The English gunners suffered more severely and several guns and vehicles of both regiments were damaged.' (Source: Murphy, W.E. 2nd NZ Divisional Artillery. p. 358.; Walker, R. Alam Halfa and Alamein. p. 75.) AWMM