STORIES OF HEROISM.
BITTER FLANDERS FIGHTING. London, Oct 15.
The heroic story of the advance of Passchendaele Ridge includes countless individual sacrifices. A young Australian corporal was allowed, after two refusals, to go with four volunteers to hunt for troublesome snipers who were hidden 400 yards on our left. He displayed striking gallantry and sangfroid. Moving about the shell holes, the Australians outflanked the enemy party and killed two of the snipers, but only the corporal returned, and even he was wounded. He prayed for permission to remain in the fight, but was ordered to the rear. When he put his head above the shell hole he was again hit. Ultimately he was saved. The runners’ work was a wonderful, ungrudging sacrifice. It was all voluntary. One officer sent five men out in an hour. Four were killed within the officer’s sight. One man then did eight trips and asked for more. Such fighting would be impossible but for the physique and spirits of the men. At one spot a hundred Germans were seen. A signal brought our barrage on them. When the smoke cleared nothing was left of them Across the railway an Australian and a German were found dead together, the bayonet of each in the other’s body. Most of the fighting in this sector was Homeric.
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Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1917, Page 4
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219STORIES OF HEROISM. Hokitika Guardian, 12 November 1917, Page 4
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