'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During the attack north of Le Quesnoy on the 4th November 1918, this soldier was in command of a 3" Stokes Mortar Team, attached to 1st Battalion Auckland Regt. Shortly after the attack commenced, the team came under very heavy shell fire. Pte Pirrit was knocked over by a shell, and the remainder of his men wounded. In spite of heavy and continuous shelling, with magnificent coolness, he immediately proceeded to dress his comrades, placing them in shell holes for greater safety. Securing the services of Prisoners, he despatched the wounded to the regimental aid post. Pte Pirrit then collected the gun and ammunition to a place of safety, and reported to his Battery Headquarters, obtaining reinforcements to continue with the advance. It was entirely due to his high sense of duty and disregard of personal danger, that the Battalion had a Stokes Mortar to call upon, in the final stages of the attack.'
Source: London Gazette
Date: 3 July 1919