THE PRO PATRIA PROJECT
STITT Alan Duncan
6/849, Major, 1st Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, WW1
Lieutenant Colonel, Service in WW2
CITATION
Distinguished Service Order
Gazetted 1 January 1918, p1190
Operations Messines - 7th to 12th JUne and operations in front of Ploegsteert 14th to 19th June 1917. During the above operations Major Stitt was in Command of the 1st Canterbury Battalion and displayed exceptional qualities of leadership during that time. He was continually under heavy shell fire for five days and showed the greatest gallantry when superintending the consolidation of that part of the Messines Ridge allotted to his Batalion. During the later operations opposite Warneton he again commanded his Battalion with conspicuous success and was responsible for establishing a line of posts in front of La Basse Ville which he personally reconnoitred and personally supervised the work during the night it was carried out. Later, during the latter part of July, when the first Canterbury Battalion were holding the trenches opposite La Basse Ville, Major Stitt was again in command. The Battalion was continually subjected to a very heavy shell fire, under very bad weather conditions; Major Stitt, by his cheerful disposition and devotion to duty, maintained his Battalion in the highest state of discipline and efficiency.
Military Cross
Gazetted 1 January 1917, p46
During the whole of the operations round Flers from 16th to 28th September 1916, this officer has done excellent work as Adjutant of the Battalion. During the action on the 27th at Grid Trench, the senior officers were casualties and Captain Stitt was sent forward to take command and consolidate the position. This he did particularly well, sending in good reports and citing an excellent line. An excellent officer.
Mention in Despatches
Gazetted
Mentiond in Despatched by Field Marshall Sir D. Haig for distinguished and gallant services and devotion to duty
KNOWN AWARDS
Distinguished Service Order
Military Cross
1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Mention in Despatches1939-45 Star
Africa Star
War Medal 1939-45
New Zealand Service Medal
New Zealand Territorial Service Medal
NOTES
Born 11 Jun 1894, Ashburton, New Zealand
Died 16 October 1950, Kenya
