Fought With His Fists.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 15 December 1915, Page 3

Fought With His Fists.

JiAiMl HILL'S V.C

[ Tho announcement that that grand old British soldier, General Sir James ilill-Joluicß, recently celebrated hits eighty-secondi birthday, recalls the striking story oi' liow lie won the V .C. ---a story which stands out oven among tiie uuuiy stirring military episodes with which the "i'or Valor" modal is associated. "" —""" JL'our years boforo tiio Indian Mutiny broke out, Sir James joined the Bengal Artillery, to which Lord lioborts already belonged, tne two being subalterns togother in the sanio corps. JLSotii wore present at tlio soigo ol Delhi; both took part in the operations at Lucknow; both were dangerously wounded at the seige oi Delhi; bota made miraculous botu before tlio Mutiny ended, received the Victora Cross. This is how Jimmy Hills 'won tne much-coveted decoration. Ho was in change ol' -a cavalry picket outside Delhi, when a largebody ol Sowars suddenly dashed forth from the city. 10 save the guns, young nills actually charged the enemy alone, thinking that the diversion lie caused would give the gunnera time to reload. l'or the next iew minutes the lieutenant liau the time of his life.lie ploughed into a series of haud-to-liand lights such as appear in the stories or the old Crusading days. He succeeded in putting two men out oi action one after the other but no'sooner was he rid of these than lie was charged by two more, and lus horse was sent Hying. But lio Avent 011 ugh ting. When his sword 'was twisted out oi his hand ho resorted to lus lists, being eventually rescued from certain death by Sir Harry Tombs, who also Avon his V. C. 011 that memorable clay.