THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT
HARFORD Eric Roy.
20033 Lieutenant Colonel, New Zealand Divisional Cavalry Regiment WW2
296 Legion of Frontiersmen, New Zealand
CITATION
Distinguished Service Order
Gazetted 26 December 1941, Issue 35396, Page 7334
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. Throughout the campaign in Greece this officer displayed marked devotion to duty and initiative when in contact with the enemy. On the 13th April 1941 on the Topuitsa Tank Line when his squadron was being heavily engaged by overwhelming forces of the enemy and almost surrounded he displayed marked coolness and ability in withdrawing his squadron successfully to the next position in rear. Again on the 18th of April, he successfully withdrew his squadron from the Olympus and Servia Roads position in front of Elesson in the face of severe gun and machinegun fire from enemy tanks and on the 25th of April and succeeding days until he was finally evacuated from Greece on the 25th April [sic]. By his coolness, courage and determination and initiative, he was able to rally his squadron which had been heavily engaged by parachute and airborne troops and subjected to severe dive bombing and machine-gunning with the result that he was able to evacuate most of the squadron in boats collected and manned under his supervision.
Mention in Despatches
Gazetted 26 December 1941, Issue 35396, Page 7362
KNOWN AWARDS
Distinguished Service Order
1939-45 Star
Africa Star
Defence Medal
War Medal
Mention in DespatchesNew Zealand War Service Medal
Coronation Medal 1953
Efficiency Decoration
NOTES
Born 8 March 1904
Died 20 April 1978 New Plymouth, New Zealand
Buried Te Henui Cemetery
