Legion of Frontiersmen (New Zealand) Command

FOOTE Robert Benjamin

9/1549 Otago Mounted Rifles, WW1

2/20a/34 New Zealand Home Guard, WW2

Legion of Frontiersmen, New Zealand

CITATION

Military Medal

Gazetted 13 March 1919, p3452

For gallantry and devotion to duty. On 29th September 1918, in operations at Bon Avis Ridge, this NCO showed exceptional initiative and

great gallantry under trying conditions. His Company had captured two enemy 77mm guns and later was being held up by enemy machine

gun fire from an adjacent ridge. Sergeant Foote turned these guns on the enemy and although he had no previous training in gunnery, he

was successful in driving the hostile machine guns from their positions. During the whole of this time he was under machine gun fire but he

continued firing until his supply of shells was exhausted. His initiative allowed his Company to go on to the final objective.

Bar to the Military Medal

Gazetted 17 June 1919

For acts of gallantry in the field.

AWARDS

Military Medal and Bar

1915 Star

British War Medal

Victory Medal

NOTES

Born 18 January 1886 Nelson, New Zealand

Died 23 August 1968 Havelock North, New Zealand

Buried Havelock North Cemetery [Block D, Plot 73]