A WOMAN V.C.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 87, 24 September 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

A WOMAN V.C.

HEROINE OF THE RUSSIAN

ARMY. Some time ago, travelling on the same train to Warsaw, were a man and a woman —the man a young undergraduate who had joined the Russian army as a volunteer, and the woman the daughter of a princely landowner in the Caucasus, v who bore one of the noblest names in the history of Russia. The man, who was an officer, was going to join his regiment, and during the two days' railway journey the two young people, wno had fallen in love at first sight, became engaged. On arriving at Warsaw they went to tho nearest Orthodox Greek Church, where a kindly priest married them. The girl then refused to leave her husband, and, managing to obta.-n a soldier's kit and assuming the name of Laurenty, followed him to the firingline. She soon obtained her baptism of fire, for the position where she and her husband were stationed was one of the most critical on the River Rawka and subjected to continual German attacks. During one encounter her husband, who was only a lieutenant, found himself the only officer in a condition to command four companies, and his wife acted as lieutenant. The Germans were mowing the Russians down, and the young officer sent one oT his men to the front line of trenches to give the order to retire. But the front line men, excited beyond control, refused, owing to an order given by their late commander. Twice the husTiand sent, but the men refused to move. Then trie husband, as a la si resort, sent his wife. She tried to persuade them, but without success. Every moment the_ Germans were getting nearer, and fire became hotter, while their coming meant instant death for every man; so the girl lifted the butt end of her rifle and brought if down on the shoulde s of first one man and then another. angry voice and forceful action had the desired effect and the men evacuated the trenches and ran towards the back line, Laurenty staying till every man had reached a safer place. As she stood there a shrapnel hit her right arm. In another ten minutes not a single man would have been left alive in that trench. When Laurenty returned she found her husband wounded in the leg: husband and wife were sent to the »me hospital, and the soldier-princess was soon presented to the Commander-in-Chief and received the Cross of St. George, the Y.C. of Russia, for her valour,