Distinguished Service

OF 45 commendation cards, signed by General Thomas Blarney, Com mander-in-Chief of the Allied Land Forces in South-west Pacific area, and issued to members of the Australian mili tary forces, several have been received by former residents of Port Moresby. Among them are:— Lieutenant Allan Timperley, of the Administrative Unit, for courage and initiative. Lieutenant Timperley, for merly a patrol officer, joined the Papuan Public Service in 1937, as a cadet in the Magisterial Branch. It was not long be fore he was promoted to patrol officer and Acting Assistant Magistrate, and his work in that connection was outstanding.

He is a native of Ipswich (Qld.), and has been a resident of Papua for nine years.

Private Bernard McMahon Ritchie (Administrative Unit), rewarded for ser vices in the New Britain area during March, is an old public servant, and, be fore enlisting, was the engineer of the Papuan patrol steamer “Laurabada.”

Private Ronald Moresby Stewart • Administrative Unit), rewarded for ser vices in the New Britain area, is a son of the late Mr. Robert Stewart* and Mrs.

Stewart, of Napa Napa. He is a native of Port Moresby.