WAR “ACE” RECOVERS

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4465, 14 June 1930, Page 1

WAR “ACE” RECOVERS

BULLET FROM SPINE. It is a. far cry from France in 1.018 to sunny New South Wales in 1030, lint the intervening-years were bridged in rim malic fashion this week at Rnndwiek Military Hospital, says the “Sun-Pictorial.” Ex-pilot Stanley Thompson, °l' the A.F.C., was operated on tor tln> war wound that marie him a German prisoner. A Melbourne University graduate and a dentist, Thompson enlisted with the 7th (Vie.) Battalion as soon as war was declared, and in November of the following year gained his wings. A week before the Armistice lie was in a bombing ’plane 5000 feet over the German lines when .five Ilun machines swooped on him. Bullets poured in on him from every angle, and enemy “Archies” from below added occasional zest to the combat.

“The odds were against me,” Thompson said, "but l sent two ‘.Jerries’ crashing before I was wounded in the shoulder, leg, and side.”

Then, as he zoomed for earth and safety, a stray bullet from one of the pursuing ’planes lodged in the base of his spine. It was only by a supreme effort that he landed behind the German lines. No sooner had he done this than lie swooned. The bullet in his spine gave him such trouble that a couple of years ago he had to give up work, and since has been a crip|dc. Now a Sydney specialist, also a “Digger,” removed the bullet, and now the former ace is well, on the road to recovery.