BEFORE THE KING

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2764, 6 May 1916, Page 8

BEFORE THE KING

V.Ci MAN'S EXPERIENCE

SERGT. C. BASSETT DESCRIBES

THIS SCENtf

Writing from the N.Z. Base Camp at Horncnurch (England) to his mother (who is at present m 'Wellington), Sergeant Cyril Bassett, V.C., ot Auckland, says, under date iUarch a: "1 have received my medal at last, and it's all over now. I drova to Buckingham Palace in a motor-car with Captain Sliera and Lieuts Bishop and Turnbull, three Military Cross men, and there His Majesty the King pinned on my decoration. i had to stand at attention facing him whilst the account of my action was read to the King, and tuen I advanced up to within about three paces, when I bowed, and tho King said to me: 'You aro tiio iirst New Zealander to receive the decoration?' I snid, 'Yes, Your Majesty." Whereupon ho said, 'I am p;oud to congratulate you!' and at the same time shaking hands with me. He then : said something about the gullant way the colonials had gathered round the flag, after which I backed out of the chamoer.

"When I got to the gates of tho I'alace I was met by a lot of my pals and officers,, w'lio congratulated me, and i tiien I had to undergo tho ordeal of having my photograph taken by a bat- I tery of 30 or 40 cameras, who pushed and jostled to get a snap of me. The ' movies ' were there, .too, and we had to stand for them. People, perfect strangers, came up and shook hands with me, and at last I arrived at the place tho bo.vs had guided mo to. With the Camp Band and fifty men as my escort I had to fall in in the place of honour, and away we inarched to the Hotel Windsor in Victoria Street, where Sir Thomas Mackenzie was giving mo a complimentary luncheon. We had n decent lunch, but I'm afraid my speech wasn't the most' brilliant. You knowas soon as I stood up to reply to Sir Thomas's words the boys cheered and stamped and roared so that all the lovely speech I had prepared went. Goodness, I nearly broke down, but managed to thank them all in about a sentence, and then sat down. Major Dawson was as proud as Punch. After the luncheon,he took me down to camp and to dinner at tile officers' mess. Tho officers all drank my bbalth. But 1 at last it was all over, and 1 wasn't sorry. My photo was in all. the. papers tho next day, and I am sending some of them to you. . . . 'tho National Bank of New Zealand directors, gave me a pleasant 'surprise about a mouth ago. I'hoy gave me £'J 00 worth of bank shares as a token of their appreciation. Mr. James Coates was, I think, at the bottom of it. ... I have just had another promotion- to sergeant (Bassett was a private when ho won. his V.C.). I am leaving the camp on March 13 for Tunbridge Wells to undergo a course of signalling. ... I am billeted with a lady n?-med Mrs. and hei daughter and soil. It's regular home from liorao —they can't do enough for me." In connection with the above letter, it is interesting t6 know that tho writer's lather, Corporal Bassett (aged 5!) years) will parade with the 12th Reinforcements, to-day. ' '