A GENERAL'S TRIBUTE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 184, 30 April 1919, Page 6

A GENERAL'S TRIBUTE

DEEDS OF WELLINGTON SOLDIER,

Gallant work by a meniber of the Australian Forces is described in a letter written by General Sir .William Birdwood to Captain Bernard Victor Portman, son of Mr. Bernard' Portman, of Wadestown. The general's letter to Captain Portman i 6 as follows:— "I write to send you my heartiest congratulations on the award to you of a Bar to the Military Cross in recognition of your good and gallant work in our operations near Bainecourt on August 11 last. I should have written much earlier; but I regret it is only now that I hayo been advised of the award. You displayed verv high powers of leadership and initiative in command of your company. On noticing a gap, on the left flank, you immediately formed a defensive flank which you maintained all day under very . heavy fire, while, single-handed, you rushed an enemy post, capturing the garrison and two machiue-guii6. Throughout, your work was of a very high order, and you showed a splendid example to vour men," ' . ~ Captain Portman, who is a native of Sydnev and 27 years of age, came to Wellington when he was 11 years old and received his education at the Wadestow n School, under Mr. Joplin. When the war broke out he was living in. >.ew South Wales, and he at once enlistee), gome to Now Guinea with the troops fioiu that State Six months later he returned to Sydney, and before long he wns again away' Mter serving in Egypt he went to Gallipoli and then to the Western front, where he distinguished himself. Captain Portman has a literary bent, ,n»d is encaged irt writing a war history for the New South Wales Go'-»vmiient. He and another aro the only ing of thoso who belonged iiis old battalion.

"I expect we all will find a need tr revise our sense of proportion and get new ideas of value' if ever we' read Heaven. Many of us will get srarprisS there."—"Saturday Westminster." .