A GALLANT STAND

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 250, 10 July 1918, Page 6

A GALLANT STAND

SIXTEEN HOURS' FIGHTING—AND A WELL-EAR.NED BEST. Captain E. M. Campbell, of the Fifth Cameron Highlanders (eon of Mr. Duncan ■Campbell, for many years an officer of the Bank of New Soiith_ Wales, and now in the Government service), gives an interesting account in a recent letter of the fighting north of the Lys in which it is presumed he won his decoration. An extract from the letter reads:— "Well, our last scrap fairly put the lid on it; fairly knocked us out; but tho Hun paid for it good and hard. . . • My company was holding a strong point situated at the end of a' bluff, with an outpost line in front, at the time of the attack. He opened up with a gas attack abont 2.30 a.m., and continued on with it until 4 a.m., and mixed with it a smoke barrage. Another started with his artillery, and, my word, he let us nave it with big heavy stuff-nothing light at all—and in a very short time knocked out the outpest and left me in tho front line. It was then about 10 a.m. "his was on iqt actual front, hut those_ on the right had to give way and swing, leaving our flank open to all his jnacmnegun fire, which ho simply poured in on us, making things decidedly uncomfortable. It looked very much as if he would cut us off. However, we managed to keep him at bay. By midday the only part of the line that had not fallen back from its original front was ours, so m consequence his whole, attentions were turned on us, and, my word, he let us have it good and strong From then 911, time find again, my poor lads were buried and had to be dug out, and you could not move an inch, as his machine-guns were simply ripping the sandbngs on tho parapet tho whole time. On occasion ho would-stop and lift his barrage, and then try and swarm upon us, but the good lads were ready for him with their rifles and Lewis guns, and simply mowed em down in good style. This failing, -ho would put his artillery on again. An, it was a fair hell. About five 0 clock ho managed to work round our flank, and things didn't look cheery. I can tell you I had an anxious time of it trying to do all sorts of things to keep things | going. Could seo runners leaving Battalion Headquarters to try and get to me, but no use. At one time four good lads, trying one after another, were shot down. Poor lads! I can tell you it showed what pluck those brave boys had. I found out afterwards that they were trying to bring up the message to withdraw, but as you. see I didn't get it, and managed to hold on until about o.lj p.m. but could not hold any longer, as he had "bust* in my flanks and I had lost such a lot in casualties, so withdrew to the next line of defence, and almost immediately was ordered to take my men right out into Brigade Reserves. And, oh, what news it was! I can assure you we didn't wait long. Sixteen hours real hard fighting,s and all 'barked to 1 blazes, but, by heaven, tho lads had done well. We seem to have got quite a deal of praise from tho directors for the stand wo made."