A Stirring Story

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 May 1915, Page 2

A Stirring Story

HOW'OLD EDINBURGH NEWSRO* WON THE V. O. The printing and newspaper trades are contributing their share of heroism to the present war. The latest- example is that of "Jock" Wilson, formerly a newspaper-seller in the streets' of Edinburgh. Private Wilson tells the following story of how he -won the Victorian Cross to the "Dundee Courier". A Maxim gun had been taking a heavy toll of the H.L.1.. and Wilson asked some of his comrades "if it would not he possible to take the deadly gun. One of the company, an Englishman, said •'Jack, you ha.ve a try." Wilson was ready to do so, and one of the Middlesex Regiment promptly volunteered to go along with him. Without waiting for permission, the pair leaped out of the trench. They had not gone many yards when the Germans opened a murderous fire upon them. The Englishman fell, shot in many places. Wilson, however, bore a charmed life and although under a murderous fire ho sueceded in shooting the operator. The vacant seat at the gun was immediately taken by another man. Hian also Wilsoli shot, repeating this fact each time as man after man in a steady How took the seat at the gun. Eventually the seat was left vacant, and Wilson rushed forward t» capture the gun. Suddenly a wounded' officer sprang to his feet and fired his revolver, at Wilson. The shot missed, and' the Scotsman bayoneted the officer, and was left in possession of the gran. He discovered about 750 rounds of ammunition and, with the Germans in massed formation about 100 yards in front of him, he turned the weapon towards them and poured a deadly tire into the ranks. "It was impossible to mifi6 them," Wilson said, "and the Germane fell in all directions." seeing the danger of their position, the enemy attempted to silence the Maxim with their artillery. Shells fell thickly round him. but good fortune was still with him, and although splinters were flying evei-ywhere he was not hit. It was thrilling while it lasted, he said, but no infantry could possibly face the steady fire of a 'Maxim for any length of time, and the Germans broke and left him. He calculated that during the period the gun had been in action he must have killed close upon 300 men. Wilson thought it was time to get back to the trenches, and, picking up the gun. Tie .carried it hack to *ht British lines. Appraoohing his officer, he threw the Maxim at his feet, wit'i the remark. "Here's the d thn* that has been causing all the damage." The words were jio sooner out of his month then he swooned. Recovering, he learned that his partner 'n the e.xl x 'oit was still lying out in the open, and he decided to bring him in. Bullets w?r-j still flying thickly, but he reached the English nan. As he picksd him up the wounded man received three additional bullet hits. Ultimately Wilson arrived within the British lines with his comrade. The Englishman had reveived no fewer than twenty ibullet wounds, and he died next morning. In subset) .ff-Tit fighting Wilson was woundor 1 times but 1 never seriously. Private Wilson. Y.C... is now in the hospital in Glasgow, suffering from rheumatism which he contracted in the trenches.