THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT

BONIFACE Duncan Joseph

83223, Private, 4 Armoured Brigade, New Zealand Electrical & Mechanical Engineers, WW2

CITATION

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Gazetted 19 June 1945, Supp 37138, p3226

As a driver of a D-8 tractor of 4 NZ Armoured Brigade Recovery Section, Private Boniface displayed cool courage of a particularly high standard over a long period.  During the advance over the Morro River, Italy, he proceeded across the river ahead of the tanks to assist them to cross and for three following nights, continuously under heavy mortar and machine-gun fire, he worked to keep the roads clear and assist the tanks forward.  For a period of weeks he was under enemy fire every night recovering vehicles and tanks and on more than one occasion recovered tanks within 300 yards of the enemy under fire so heavy that the tank crews had been withdrawn by the Regiment.  At Cassino the cool, calculated courage previously displayed was even exceeded.  Day after day he recovered tanks in full view of the enemy under continuous fire and on six different nights he worked on the lateral road between Route 6 and the railway within earshot of the enemy.  Such heavy fire was brought down by the noise of the tractor that the 21 Battalion finally refused to allow him to work there any longer owing to the casualties being suffered by the infantry.  He also recovered a T-2 tank of the American Forces which had been abandoned after casualties had been suffered from heavy fire brought to bear on the tank each time previous recovery had been attempted.  At the conclusion of the Cassino battle, a certain number of tanks were stranded on the steep road north of the monastery.  After several had been lost over a 400-ft cliff by another unit attempting to recover it was considered that the rest of them could not be salvaged and instruction given that they should be blown up.  Private Boniface would not concur with this decision and was largely instrumental in the recovery of these tanks.  His courage, skill, endurance and extremely high sense of duty were again evidenced in the battle of Florence, where his work inspired his comrades top such an extent that in spite of heavy tank casualties, every tank was recovered within one day of the cessation of heavy fighting.  Throughout the whole operation of the Division in Italy he has displayed energy, endurance and cool courage of an extremely high order and has so inspired his unit that the tank recovery of the 2nd NZ Division was unrivalled in Italy

KNOWN AWARDS

Distinguished Conduct Medal

1939-45 Star

Africa Star

Italy Star

War Medal 1939-45

New Zeland War Service Medal

NOTES

Born 28 June 1920, New Zealand

Died