Lt A. D. Rockell, MM; Taihape; born Hawera, 30 Jan 1910; shepherd; wounded 20 Apr 1943. (Source: Burdon, R.M. 24 Battalion. p.237.)

'On the morning of 18 March B Company held the south-west corner of the Botanical Gardens, with A on its left and D on the left of A, facing the Hotel des Roses. It soon became apparent, however, that the enemy had been reinforced during the night. The houses lying along the foot of the hill were more strongly held than ever. Snipers had crept round to the rear of our company positions, and Captain Schofield (A Company) was badly wounded early in the morning, his command devolving upon Second-Lieutenant Armstrong. Even so, B Company was preparing for another attempt on the Continental Hotel when the upper floor of the building, occupied by more than half its men, suddenly collapsed under the weight of rubble that had fallen down on to it from the superstructure. One man was hopelessly crushed and buried under tons of masonry. Private Taylor was pinned down at the edge of the fallen pile, but behaved with such courage during the half hour it took to extricate him that he was awarded the MM. Corporal Rockell earned the same decoration by making his way back to Company Headquarters at great personal risk and returning with a rescue party. In spite of being hit on the head by a stone, Second-Lieutenant McCorquindale remained master of the situation and got the survivors out to safety without a suspicion of panic, before having to go down the line himself with concussion. A number of rifles and other equipment were buried under the debris. The men, having been badly shaken, were in no condition to undertake a somewhat desperate venture, and the contemplated attempt along Route 6 was cancelled. Lt A. D. Rockell, MM; Taihape; born Hawera, 30 Jan 1910; shepherd; wounded 20 Apr 1943.' (Source: Burdon, R.M. 24 Battalion. pp. 237.) AWMM