Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Unit:

Headquarters, 2nd New Zealand Division, New Zealand Military Forces

Awarded on:

May 1st, 1944

"45496 Mr RH BUSFIELD was the YMCA Secretary attached to the 21 NZ Battalion from July 1941 to April 1944. More recently he has been in charge of YMCA work with the NZ Division. Throughout the Desert Campaigns and again in ITALY he was always with the troops in forward positions or on the march looking after their welfare and comfort; and when in rest or training areas his arrangements for the welfare of the Battalion were of the highest order. Times without number and particularly when the fighting was of the grimmest, he went round the troops in the FDLS distributing YMCA comforts, and by his cheerful disposition helped them maintain their spirits at a high level. On such occasions he showed total disregard for his own safety. During the North African Campaign Mr BUSFIELD on numerous occasions on two of which his truck was blown up on an enemy minefield, made hazardous journeys through the desert without any guide in order to maintain supplies of comforts for his Battalion."