Brave New Zealander

Levin Daily Chronicle, 2 April 1918, Page 4

Brave New Zealander

RESCUE or A COMRADE. COURAGE UNDER FIRE.

The story of a gallant rescue of a comrade under lire at the battle of the Somme is rendered especially interesting by the presence in Auckland of both rescuer and rescued. The former is Corporal W. A. Oldham, generally known, as Frank, formerly of Ngaruawahia, and the latter, Private Thomas Mackie, of Mount Eden. Private Mackie left New Zealand with the Eleventh Contingent, Wellington Battalion, and, before going to France, saw service in Egypt. On October 1, about the date of the last advance on the S'omme, he was badly wounded by a bursting shell, the effect of which was paralyse his body and legs, rendering him incapable of any movement with the exception of his arms. For 21 hours he was lying in a shell-hole in "No Man's Land."

Early next morning the 2nd Auckland Regiment, in which Corporal Oldham was serving, was sent up as reserve to support the Wellington and Canterbury Battalions. In the trench which the newcomers occupied a great deal of havoc was caused by a German sniper, and a sharp look-out for him was maintained. Whilst peeping over the parapet, Corporal Oldham noticed a white face in a shell hole, about 300 yards in front of the trench, and he called the attention of the men alogside of him to it. Four or five rifles were instantly raised and levelled at the form in the shell-hole, in the belief that it was that' of the "sniper" for whom all had been looking. Just as the observers were about to press the triggers, however, Corporal Oldham saw the man in the shell-hole raise his hand and wave. He called out to his comrades not to fire, and hailed the recumbent figure. As there was no response the men in the trench again made ready to fire at him, when, once more he was seen to wave his hand. This decided Corporal Oldham, and telling the men to hold their lire, he removed his equipment, and, taking a revolver, climbed over the top and made for the shell-hole.

Enemy snipers saw Corporal Oldham's advance, and tried to shoot him, but by taking a zig-zag course he managed to reach his objective. He crept into the shell-hole and questioned Private Mackie. He then raised him in his arms and carried him back to the safety of the trench. Curiously enough the rescuer and his wounded comrade were not fired upon on the return journey. Neither thought they had much chance, as the place where Private Mackie had been lying was only 30 yards away from the German lines. For this gallant deed Corporal Oldham was recommended for the Victoria Cross., but he has not heard anything further of it. He won the Military Medal, however, on September 15, for bravery in carrying wounded men out of the danger zone, and, subsequently, going out at nigh t and covering them with coats taken from dead Germans. He has his skull fractured in the battle of Messines, and was invalided back to New Zealand. Recently he and Private Mackie met in Queen Street, tho latter having now recovered sufficiently to walk about with the aid of a stick.

Private Thomas Mackie is a son of Mrs M. E. Mackie, of Hasbury Avenue, Mount Eden. That lady has lost one son, a son-in-law, and a brother in the war, and another son is now in Palestine.