LAE, NEW GUINEA. 1944-09-09. VX13 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL S.G. SAVIGE, CB,CBE, DSO, MC, ED, GOC, NEW ...

LAE, NEW GUINEA. 1944-09-09. VX13 LIEUTENANT-COLONEL S.G. SAVIGE, CB,CBE, DSO, MC, ED, GOC, NEW GUINEA FORCE (1) CONGRATULATING 1879 SERGEANT IWAGU, ROYAL PAPUAN CONSTABULARY WITH THE GEORGE MEDAL DURING A PARADE OF THE LAE ROYAL PAPUAN CONSTABULARY. THE CITATION READS: "DURING OPERATIONS AGAINST THE JAPANESE AT FINSCHHAFEN THIS NATIVE NON COMMISSIONED OFFICER SHOWED OUTSTANDING COURAGE AND DEVOTION TO DUTY. ON 1943-09-22 WHEN OUR FORCES LANDED NEAR THE SONG RIVER SERGEANT IWAGU SWAM TO HIS AID, BROUGHT HIM ASHORE AND UNDER HEAVY MACHINE GUN FIRE, STAYED WITH HIM UNTIL STRETCHER BEARERS ARRIVED. THE OFFICER LATER DIED. SERGEANT IWAGU IMPARTED THE HIGHEST CONFIDENCE TO THE OTHER NATIVE TROOPS BY HIS COOLNESS AND CALM BEARING.