'This Sergeant who is a member of the original New Zealand Expeditionary Force, acted as Regimental Sergeant-Major during the attack on Messines. By his skill and devotion to duty he greatly facilitated the work of the Battalion and set a fine standard of cool courage to its NCOs and men. During the enemy counter attack made on the night of the 8th June he controlled the Battalion details with conspicuous ability and altogether indifferent to the very heavy shell fire took the Runners and Headquarters details into a trench in front of Battalion Headquarters and exercised perfect control over them throughout in spite of the fact that he had his rifle smashed in his hands through the bursting of a shell and was at the time badly shaken. His action and example is worthy of the highest commendation.'
Recommendation date: 16 August 1917