V.C. DEEDS.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 January 1930, Page 6

V.C. DEEDS.

CORPORAL WHO GAVE HIS LIFE,

East of Ypres, after darkness had faiilen on November 23, 1915, fjour figures stole out across No Man’s Land towards the enemy lines. It was just an ordinary night patrol carried out to the accompaniment of the broken stutter of machine' guns and the intermittent crack of rifles, both British and German. Now and then came the sullen boom of a gun. Staying motionless under the glare of star shell or Verey light, going carefully but swiftly when the gloom enveloped them again, the four arrived within a short distance of the German wire. Then a burst of bullets caught them. The subaltern in command fell badly wounded and one of his men was hit. Corporal Drake was prompt in action. He ordered the other riflemen to assist his fellow hack to our trenches: the officer required immediate attention if his life were to be : saved. By lying still it was possible to escape the German fire, which did not cease for long. There was none to see, but we can imagine the corporal kneeling by the side of the subaltern and tending him. Hit and hit again, he must have finished his self-appointed task before ho collapsed.

For a search party found them ere the night was gone. There lay the officer, unconscious but alive, his wound bandaged with skill and care. Near him was the dead body of Alfred Drake, riddled with bullets.

GALLIPOLI REDOUBT CAPTURED. When the Turks made their desperate assault upon the Anzac lines in the early morning of May 19, 1915, one of their fiercest attacks was against the redoubt called Courteney’s Post. Rushing up the broken scrub-covered slopes they bombed their way into one small length of trench. Beyond a traverse crouched LanceCorporal Jacka with his riflle and bayonet. He was alone, but to his right a communication trench opened. Up this other Australians advanced with fixed bayonets to turn out the Turks. The lance-corporal jumped across and took the lead. He sprang round the corner, keeping close to the trench tv all But though he escaped the Turkish bul lets in the dim light, the two men who followed next were shot. Falling, they blocked the way of those in the rear. The lance-corporal was lucky to scramble back safely to the shelter of the communication trench.

•» the next attempt the doughty Victorian undertook to attack the Turks from the other side. He ran round by tbe communication trench and got out in front of Courtney”s Post. Two bond's were thrown by bis comrades. Ho leapt upon the parapet and opened fire. Five Turks he shot; jumping into the trench he slew two more with the bayonet.. The others fled.

Unhurt, a cigarette between bis lips. Albert Jacka was just pleased that he had been “ able to manage it.