FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD D.C.M.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 183, 16 June 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD D.C.M.

"I WAS ARUIi,, Jin 1 I'PI p I -MI ST i>o .MV jiJT." A irinarkal.lo .story of ihe votui--wmnor ot the Distinguished 'Conduct. -Medal an Irish Canadian boy named Anthony Grnloy, who joined the Canadian Ivvpeditonary Force when ho vis cnly fourteen—is told in a letter wi itton from the front hv the Rev. I). ,1 Hile\ pastor of a Y\ est Xorwood Bavtist church. lhe letters 'ippcurs in the "Norwood Pre-s and Dulwich \d~ vertisor." When Mr Hi!, v j.-ked fjrinl.-v wliv lie joined the army, he replied, " I le't the country was in trouble. a'nd thai t!i ey wanted my help.'' "So a;;x:ons was the hoy to to Frame," says Mr Milev, "that h-M-ro-cd the Channel as a stowaway." Grinley won the D.C'.M. during The battle at fce-tubort hy volunteering I,> carry hack to headquarters iu we n!" the desperate position of his company. "I asked him why lie ofi'eted to g'e when it was so dangerous,' 1 Air ll'ley. _" He was very candid about- :t 'Well.' lie slid, 'it mus net so dangiroiis as staying there, ami I though, that il I got through they would not .send me back again.' "The distance he had to traverse \\a« about three-quarters of a mi!.<. but il was a terrible throe-qaarte!,- of a mil Anthony got through in headquarters With the mi-sage, ieut his hope of notiviiiining was not realised, for the colonel M'tij; him back with the reply beeau-e he a'one knew the wav. ! h:ni if he was afraid. ' Ye-, I was: but I felt I must do my let.' "He -farted off on tie 4 perilous jo I ney on which the lives of men depended. and again lie threaded his w;>.\ through barbed wive, \\;.ter-|oggeij trenches, and pa»t- dead h> rocs. ii\ the blessing of (ind lie g. t ' a< k v.iti, the reply."