FOR BRAVERY
HIGH AWARD TO NELSON BOY SCOUT
HEROISM IN SUFFERING
[Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, May 2. The highest honour in the Boy Scout movement, the Cornwell Award for Bravery, has been made to Patrol leader Roger Kingsford, aged 14, of Nelson, for stocial endurance of suffering. Advice to this effect was received to-day by Boy Scout headquarters in Wellington from the London headquarters of the movement. The Cornwell Award is made for specific acts of physical courage coupled with preeminently high character and devotion to duty, or for bravery in saving life in exceptional circumstances, or for undergoing great suffering in an heroic manner. Kingford’s recommendation was made under the last heading about a year ago. He went into hospital with osteoyelitis in the leg, which was amuptated. He underwent nine operations, 26 anesthetics and 13 blood transfusions. In the early stages of his illness the doctors despaired of his life He is still confined to hospital.
Throughout his long illness he has borne out the Scout precepts, and the surgeon in charge of the case, Dr W. D. Stoney Johnston, Commissioner of Scouts in Nelson, wrote: “His courage, cheerfulness and manliness have never been surpassed in my care of the sick during the last 30 years." -Evening Star, 3/5/1940.
DOMINION CHIEF SCOUT COMMISSIONER
VISIT TO NELSON THIS WEEK-END
PRESENTATION OF CORNWELL AWARD
The Dominion Chief Scout Commissioner, Mr H. Christie will be paying a visit to Nelson shortly and will arrive on Sunday morning next.
At 11 o’clock on Sunday morning at the Public Hospital he will present to Patrol Leader Roger Kingsford the Cornwell Award in recognition of his stoical endurance of great suffering.
Patrol-Leader Kingsford is 14 years of age, and about a year ago he went into hospital with osteomyelitis in the leg which had to be amputated. In all he has undergone 26 anaesthetics and 13 blood transfusions. He is still confined in the Public Hospital.
The Cornwell Award is named after the famous Jack Cornwell, ship’s boy on H.M.S. Chester in the Battle of Jutland who though mortally wounded stuck to his post.
Roger Kingsford was a Patrol Leader in the Rangatira Scout Troop.
On Sunday afternoon Mr Christie, who is also acting Sea Scout Commissioner, will meet Scoutmasters of the Iron Duke Sea Scouts.
The Cornwell award has only twice 2 previously been awarded in New Zealand. -Nelson Evening Mail, 14/6/1940.
PERSONAL ITEMS
Sergt.-Pilot Peter Kingsford. R.N.Z.A.F., eldest son of Captain and Mrs A R. Kingsford, has been appointed captain of a Wellington bomber. The bomber’s co-pilot is also a New Zealander, the first and second wireless operators are Australians, the rear gunner a Canadian, and the observer an Australian. -Nelson Evening Mail, 7/4/1942.
RAF 40 Squadron Wellington Bomber Ic HX399 BL-S - piloted by New Zealander, and Nelsonian, Flight Sergeant Peter Reginald Kingsford - took off at 22:10 hours from RAF Shafulla base at Egypt to bomb the German-held harbour and shipping at Tobruk.
1 hour later whilst climbing to 6000 feet the starboard engine exploded and caught fire. The crew jettisoned the bomb load and attempts were made to extinguish the fire. The Pilot (Flight Sergeant Peter Kingsford) ordered the crew to bale out of the aircraft. Peter remained with the aircraft - with 1 other crew member Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Sergeant Laing in an attempt to land the Wellington - after transmitting several SOS messages.
The Wellington belly-landed at 23:15 hours in an isolated area - 10 miles West of Wadi Natrum.
Sadly both crew men aboard the Wellington did not survive injuries received in the crash landing. They were both buried near the crash site - with a senior RAF Chaplain conducting the service. Both graves were subsequently lost in sand storms.
Flight Sergeant Peter Kingsford and Wireless Op/Air Gunner Laing are both remembered at the Alamein War Memorial. -www.aircrewremembered.com
DEATH OF NELSON PILOT
SERGT.-PILOT PETER KINGSFORD (Contributed).
Sergt.-Pilot Peter Kingsford, who lost his life in air operations in the Middle East, is the eldest son of Major and Mrs A. R. Kingsford, of Nelson. He was educated at the Central School and Nelson College. The late Sergt. Kingsford was a keen member of the Nelson Tramping Club. He commenced flying with the Nelson Aero Club and later qualified with the R.N.Z.A.F., going overseas in August, 1941. As captain of a Wellington bomber he took part in the thousand bomber raids on Cologne and Essen. Shortly afterwards he flew to the Middle East where he was engaged in operations up to the time of his death.
A TRIBUTE
(To My Winged Son)
We played together, you and I, my son, From early morn till day was done.
What boundless love was ours, what joy, what fun; Together, you and I, my son.
It seems but only yesterday that I, Bought you an aeroplane to fly.
You were eleven. I still see your eyes, So bright as your craft flew the skies.
You did not flinch when called to do or die, (so proud was I at your reply);
But took your wings to battle in the sky. I only wish ’twere you and I.
I, too, must fight; and pray to God that we, May be united when ’tis done.
I also humbly pray that He make me, As great man as you, my son. -Nelson Evening Mail, 29/7/1942.
NELSON AIRMAN'S DEATH
Sergeant Pilot Peter Kingsford, who lost his life on air operations in the Middle East, was the eldest son of Major and Mrs. A. R. Kingsford, of Nelson. Sergeant Kingsford was educated at Nelson College and was a keen member of the Nelson Tramping Club. He commenced his flying with the Nelson Aero Club, later qualifying with the R.N.Z.A.F. and going overseas in August, 1941. As captain of a Wellington bomber he took part in bomber raids on Cologne and Essen, shortly afterwards flying to the Middle East, where he was engaged in air operations up to the time of his death. Major Kingsford, his father, was a pilot in the famous "100" Squadron (night-flying) Bombers in the Great War. -Evening Post, 11/8/1942.
FIRST APPLICATION IN DOMINION
EASING BOY SCOUT'S ORDEAL
(P.A.) NELSON, March 24. Penicillin has been used for the first time in New Zealand in the treatment of a patient at the Nelson Public Hospital. The patient is Roger Kingsford, aged 18, a sufferer from osteomyelitis (inflamatiom of the marrow of the bone), and staphylococcus septicaemia (an infection characterised by the presence of bacteria in the blood) for the past five years. It was only as a result of the most fortunate circumstances that Mr and Mrs A. R. Kingsford, of Nelson, were able to secure the release of doses tor the treatment of their son, who has already lost his right leg and had two other limbs seriously threatened. He has undergone over 20 operations, and has had 30 blood transfusions. He is a Boy Scout, and, in recognition of his courage he gained the Cornwell Award, which is regarded as the Scout V.C.
When the wonderful effects of penicillin became known, Mr Kingsford determined to try to secure some for his son, and his persistency was finally rewarded. A year ago a request was sent to England through the Prime Minister, but the answer stated that none could be released for civilian use. Repeated efforts were made, including an application to the United States. When all hope of success had apparently vanished a friend of Mr Kingsford suggested a new approach through a friend in Australia. A chain of contacts was eventually linked up with the Australian Government, which agreed to do everything possible to help the Nelson boy who had gained the Cornwell Award, and sufficient drug for his treatment was immediately made available, the necessary arrangements being made by the New Zealand Prime Minister. Within 24 hours of Mr Fraser's official request for penicillin reaching Australia the precious package was on its way, and it actually arrived in Nelson on the same day, being carried to Auckland on the Transtasman Air Service and then on to Nelson by air.
The treatment was administered by Dr E H. Clarke, the medical-superintendent, and Dr Lynch and Dr McNickle, of Wellington, were deputed by the Government to take an interest in the application on behalf of the Health Department.
The drug arrived four weeks ago and 10 days' treatment has now been completed, with initial results indicating a most beneficial effect.
Unlike any other known antiseptic agent, penicillin is not in the least injurious to the human body (says a writer in the Melbourne Age). Huge doses may be injected into the blood stream without any inconvenience to the patient. When acting thus in the body to combat an invading organism, it does not itself destroy the germ; it merely prevents it from reproducing itself. Whilst the invader is thus held at bay, the natural defensive mechanisms of the blood streams able able to deal with the aggressor and vanquish it. In this way penicillin somewhat resembles the sulfa drugs which caused such a stir in the medical world a few years ago. -Evening Star, 24/3/1944.
Brave Scout Dies
(Special) NELSON. This Day. Winner in 1940 of the Cornwell Award for bravery, the highest honour in the Boy Scout movement, Mr Roger Kingsford, twin son of Mr and Mrs A. R. Kingsford, of Nelson, died yesterday, aged 21.
He had been bed-ridden for 11 years as the result of a football injury. The award was made for his enduring suffering in an heroic manner. -Northern Advocate, 18/1/1947.
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