V. C. DEEDS

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1930, Page 3

V. C. DEEDS

A PRIVATE’S HEROISM. During the “advance to victory” the Newfoundlanders attacked from Ledegham, nine miles east of Ypres, on the morning of October 14, 1918. After the thick mist had lifted one company was held up by a German field battery firing at point-blank range.

Private Ricketts took a Lewis gun and worked forward with, his section commander to try to outflank the battery. It was a duel with the German artillerymen, who. now brought machine guns into action and used them well.

Pausing, now and then to deliver a burst ,of fire, the two Newfoundlanders got, to within 300yds of the battery. Then they had no ammunition left. The Germans seized the opportunity to send for the battery horses in order to get the guns away. But Thomas -Yicketts was running back through a hail of machine-gun bullets for more ammunition. He had a full hundred yards to go but received no. hurt. Then he started forward with his burden. Once more he crossed the fire-swept ground without mishap.

He was just in time. As the German gun teams came galloping up he opened fire again with his Lewis gun. itie artillery drivers swerved away and urged their animals into the shelter of a neighbouring farm. Then Ricketts turned his weapon on the Germans at the guns. They gave up the struggle and fled. ■ As the did so the whole company of Newfoundlanders rose and swept forward triumphantly to capture four field guns as many machine guns, and eight prisoners.

A NuiED' HERO. It was nearly six o’clock on the evening of Hay 31, 1916, and the main neet action had not yet begun. Commander Jones, in the destroyer Shark, saw German lignL cruisers approaching through the mist and shell splashes. He led his flotilla stiaight to the attack. . The Shark fired a torpedo at a German cruiser; she received a terrific hammering from many German ships at close range. Soon she lay almost helpless, with steering gear and engines disabled. , Loftus Jones refused the assistance of another of our destroyers. He would not allow her to risk destruction too. He was already wounded in the leg. She.■ after shell crashed into his doomed vessel. two guns with their crews were blown away. One gun remained, with only three men to serve it. The commander helped to keep it in action. . Then a shell carried away his leg above the knee. He got a petty officer to improvise a rough tourniquet. Lying on the deck amid his dead and w'unded he still encouraged. his men. A shot had almost brought down the Ensign, and he insisted that it should he re-hoisted to fly defiantly at the yard anil. His last order was for all to done lifebelts. Then, as the ship was sinking, they got him on to a raft, but he was never seen again ; The Shark went down with colours flying. Hers was no useless “saerrSce She had diverted from one of our bat-Ue-cruiser squadrons a heavy torpedo attack.

GALLANT LIEUTENANT. i The Anglo-Californian, commanded by Lieutenant Parslow, was about a hundred miles south of Queenstown on, the morning of July 4, 1915. She was bringing horses to England from Montreal and was totally unarmed. , A German submarine was sighted

about three miles away. Lieutenant Parslow manoeuvred his vessel so as to bring the enemy astern. His S. O.S. signal had been answered by a British warship. So the chase began, with the U-boat gaining rapidly. When she opened fire Lieutenant Parslow steered a zig-zag course to confuse the Germans’ aim, but the ship was hit repeatedly. Unprotected at his post on the bi’idgte, her commander held on for an hour and a half. Then, as no help was near, he determined to give his crew some chance of life; he began, to obey the Germans’ signal to abandon ship. At this moment another British vessel appeared. She fired a shell which fell short. But from a destroyer came a wireless message: “Hold on!”

Lieutenant Parslow promptly, started his engines and ordered his willing crew back to their stations.

Determined not to lose his prey, the. U-boat captain swept the hapless Anglo-Californian with a heavy burst of gun and rifle fire. Her commander was killed as he stood on the bridge.

Then, when all seemed lost, two of our destroyers came in sight. The submarine dived and was not seen again.

Although he was, not alive to know it, Frederick Parslow had saved his ship after all.

SERGEANT WHO WAS SPLENDID. The morning of November 27, 1917, the eighth day of the Battle of Cambrai, broke in cold, drizzling rain. One company of the Scots Guards, forming the right of the attack upon Fontaine-Notre-Dame, advanced under heavy shell fire. From the houses ahead snipers and machine-gunners

opened upon them. Men began to fall fast.

The company commander was hit twice, and Sergeant McAqla.y went to his assistance. The sergeant had started life as a miner, had lieen a Glasgow policeman, and was a heavyweight boxer of some renown. He carried the subaltern hack for nearly a quarter of a mile to the shelter of a dug-out, although lu> was twice felled to the • ground by the shock of an exploding shell.

Soon after he returned to th 0 fight the other two officers' were wounded and nearly half the men wounded or dead. They were still a hunderd and fifty yards from the village, but it was now a question of holding what had been won. Sergeant McAulay took command.

lie displayed a hearty contempt for German shells and L diets; lie was the foremost in dragging tip* wounded men under cover, lie found a word of cheer for all. Pn.seiill,/ the Germans advanced.

He had two machine guns pushed boldly forward and personally directed their fire. The enemy recoiled with quit<,» fifty killed and wounded. Later the sergeant handed over his company.

Many men did brave deeds on this day, but John McAulay, in the words of his colonel, was “altogether splendid^