GALLANT FRENCH AIRMEN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 40, 10 November 1917, Page 8

GALLANT FRENCH AIRMEN

HEROIC KESCUE OF A BEITISH COMPANION. The following account is of interest as showing how the French airmen work with the British, and also how promptly the French Government rewards in deserving cases:— In April last a combined Allied attack was made on a seaport "somewhere in Flanders." A British aeroplane was hit, and fell with its occupants into the era. The position was so dange_rous, and.the enemy's fire so heavy that the French Commandant forbade any attempt at relief. A French Ensoijne do Vaisseau, however, in defiance of orders, went with his seaplane to tho rescue, and succeeded in getting the British officers on. to his craft. Tho machine boin<j later disabled, they wero all taken prisoners by the Gormana. The French Commandant, in writing to the Enseigne's father, described the son's conduct as heroic. The fire was terrific, the young man's action was watched with the greatest anxiety, and the escape of the whole, party from wounds was miraculous. After speaking in the highest terms of tho young officer's conduct, tho Commandant added that, as ordors had been disobeyed, it would have been necessary, Tfad ho returned, to place him under arrest. The further duty had remained to report his conduct, with tho result shown in the order of superior authority. These included an Army Order of the day, recounting the exploit, and adding tho palm to the Croix do Guerre, already earned by the Enseigne, and a decree appointing him Chevalier of (ho Legion of Honour. An order of the Minister of Marino of a few days later promoted the Ensoigno de Vaisseau to tho rank of lieutenant as a specially desurvinsr case. His services have also been recognised by the King, who has been jjleased to create him a member of tho D.S.O. and to confer upon bis observer Ihe D.S.M. The King has also confered the D.S.M. on the crew of tho companion seaplane. ' The young officer is the eon of a French nobleman of the South of France, connected with a British family well represented in the Services.