Stuart Russell AWMM

Anderson AWMM

36103 AWMM

Male AWMM

28 March 1919 AWMM New Zealand AWMM

WW2 Pre 1940-1941 AWMM Kiwitahi Rural Delivery, Morrinsville AWMM

WW2 Mr. S.B. Anderson, Kiwitahi Rural Delivery, Morrinsville (father) AWMM

World War II, 1939-1945 AWMM

Army AWMM

36103 AWMM

Military Medal (MM) AWMM
26 October 1944 AWMM
'In the action at LIRI VALLEY, Italy, on the night of 16-17 May 1944 the tank which Trooper Anderson was driving hotly engaged the enemy and in doing so was hit in the right-hand ammunition sponsor by an enemy bazooka shell. There was an explosion and the tank caught fire. The tank commander ordered the crew to evacuate, which they did under fire from a machine gun on the flank and a sniper in front. Notwithstanding this, and the fact that the ammunition might explode at any minute, Trooper Anderson coolly weighed up his chances of success and crawled back into the tank to try to extinguish the flames. Finding the right ammunition compartment ablaze, he climbed into the tank and used all the fire extinguishers without result. By this time the tank, with columns of black smoke pouring from it was plainly visible to the enemy. Trooper Anderson, quite undaunted by the failure of the extinguishers, then climbed out to the back of the tank and after some time was able to control and extinguish the fire with water. He then re-joined his troop with the tank, which was re-manned and able to go into action again. Soon after resuming action, the tank received a direct hit from high explosive on the front of the driver’s compartment and unknown to the tank commander the spare driver collapsed. When the tank commander called for the lap gunner to begin firing, Trooper Anderson without comment leaned over and while still driving pushed the spare driver out of the way and fired the lap gun for some time with good effect. His cool courage, devotion to duty and his initiative in the face of adversity were of the highest order and a splendid example to those fighting in the area.'. (Source: The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Anderson, Stuart Russell. (Ref. WO 373/8/312). Military Medal. AWMM

WW2 Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force AWMM

17 April 1997 Noel Smith Research Project
Age 78 AWMM

• 'The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy.' (London Gazette, 26 October 1944, p.4904.). Military Medal.
  http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/36764/supplements/4904
  Further Reference
• 'In the action at LIRI VALLEY, Italy, on the night of 16-17 May 1944 the tank which Trooper Anderson was driving hotly engaged the enemy and in doing so was hit in the right-hand ammunition sponsor by an enemy bazooka shell. There was an explosion and the tank caught fire. The tank commander ordered the crew to evacuate, which they did under fire from a machine gun on the flank and a sniper in front. Notwithstanding this, and the fact that the ammunition might explode at any minute, Trooper Anderson coolly weighed up his chances of success and crawled back into the tank to try to extinguish the flames. Finding the right ammunition compartment ablaze, he climbed into the tank and used all the fire extinguishers without result. By this time the tank, with columns of black smoke pouring from it was plainly visible to the enemy. Trooper Anderson, quite undaunted by the failure of the extinguishers, then climbed out to the back of the tank and after some time was able to control and extinguish the fire with water. He then re-joined his troop with the tank, which was re-manned and able to go into action again. Soon after resuming action, the tank received a direct hit from high explosive on the front of the driver’s compartment and unknown to the tank commander the spare driver collapsed. When the tank commander called for the lap gunner to begin firing, Trooper Anderson without comment leaned over and while still driving pushed the spare driver out of the way and fired the lap gun for some time with good effect. His cool courage, devotion to duty and his initiative in the face of adversity were of the highest order and a splendid example to those fighting in the area.'. (Source: The National Archives. Recommendation for Award for Anderson, Stuart Russell. (Ref. WO 373/8/312). Military Medal.
  http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/Details?uri=D7351504
  Further Reference

• Sutherland, J. (1989). Gallantry awards to New Zealanders in World War Two. Christchurch, N.Z.: Regal Medals. AWMM
• Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force. (1941). Nominal Roll Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force No. 3 (Embarkations from 1st July, 1940 to 31st March, 1941). Wellington, N.Z.: Govt. Printer. AWMM
  WW2 3: WW2 14 AWMM
• Kay, R. (1958). 27 (Machine Gun) Battalion. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
  p.283. AWMM
• New Zealand Gazette AWMM
  New Zealand Gazette, 1945 Vol 3, p.157 AWMM
• Sinclair, D. (1954). 19 Battalion and Armoured Regiment. Wellington, N.Z.: Department of Internal Affairs, War History Branch. AWMM
• This record was partially completed by information provided by Noel George Smith (2020-2021). AWMM