Sergeant W. A. Hill, MM; Greymouth; born Greymouth, 27 Sep 1920; carpenter. (Source: Murphy, W.E. 2nd NZ Divisional Artillery. p.693.)

'The same silence was imposed on the M10s and 17-pounders of the 7th Anti-Tank. Though this irked the anti-tankers, it turned to their advantage when the enemy staged his heaviest bombardment for many months in the night 6–7 April. Most of it was directed at known gun positions, and the NZ guns, as yet unlocated by the enemy, attracted no attention. The M10s of C Troop, however, stationed under trees well behind the 4th Field, were in one of the target areas. A shell, striking a tree above C2, burst downwards into it and set it on fire. Sergeant Hill at once climbed down into the open turret, grabbed the fire extinguishers, and tried to put out the fire. Small-arms ammunition was exploding around him as he did so, the air was filled with choking fumes, and there was grave danger that the charges of the 3-inch ammunition would ignite. The extinguishers were not enough and Hill called for water to be handed down to him. With it he managed to quench the fire. While he was doing so another shell exploded under the gun. Had Hill not acted so promptly and persisted as he did the M10 would undoubtedly have become a total wreck. For his efforts he was awarded an MM. ' (Source: Murphy, W.E. 2nd NZ Divisional Artillery. p. 693.) AWMM