Honour For L. W. G. Bell,

Of Kavieng

WELL-KNOWN in New Ireland, TNG, as a planter and as the owner of the Kavieng Engineering Works be fore he enlisted in the RAAF 3 h years ago, Flying-Officer L. W. G. Bell has been awarded the Order of the British Empire (Military Division).

The citation says: “Flying-Officer Bell had been engaged in the installation of several radar stations in New Guinea. An installation party was landed on a certain island and commenced the erection, without any de-

lay other than that due to continued bombing and strafing by the enemy.

Flying-Officer Bell was able to keep the personnel employed to the best advan tage, and the station became operational three days later. During three weeks after the completion of the station, the island was subjected to 60 bombing and strafing attacks, and it was mainly due to Flying-Officer Bell’s outstanding cour age, resourcefulness and leadership that the morale of the personnel was main tained at a high level.”

Last April, F/O Bell contracted scrub typhus and was many months in hospital and convalescing. He recently spent two months’ leave in Australia, but has now returned to New Guinea.

Flying-Officer and Mrs. L. W. G. Bell, in Australia in 1941.