12 NEW V.C.S.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 233, 8 December 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

12 NEW V.C.S.

BRAVERY WITH A LIVE BOMB

PRIVATES HOST OF DEEDS

Twelve awards of the Victoria Cross are announced in a supplement to the "London Gazette." The list includes the names of four dead men.

Among those to receive the honour "for most conspicuous bravery" is the Rev. William R. V. Addison, formerly curate of St. Edmund of Abingdon, Salisbury the Bocond chaplain V.C. in the present war. the Rev. E. X. Mellish being the first. Rev. William Robert Fountaine Addison. Chaplain 4th Class.—He carried a wounded man to the cover of a trench, and assisted several others to the same cover, after binding up their wounds under heavy rifle and machine-gun fire.

2nd Lt. Edward Felix Baxter, Liverpool R. —Assisting in wire cutting close to the enemy, he held a bomb in his hand with the pin withdrawn ready to throw. Once the bomb fell, but he instantly picked it up, unscrewed the plug, and took out the detonator, which he smothered, thereby preventing an alarm and saving many casualties. Later, he led a storming party with the greatest gallantry and was the first man into the trench, shooting the sentry with his revolver. He then assisted to bomb the dug-outs, and finally climbed out of the trench and assisted the last man over the parapet. After this he was not seen again. Capt. Eric N. Frankland Bell, Innskg. Fus. —When our front line was hung up by machine-gun fire he crept forward and shot the machinegunner. Later, on three occasions when our bombing parties were unable to advance he went forward alone and threw trench mortar bombs among the enemy. Finally he was killed rallying and reorganising infantry parties which had lost their officers.

Lt. Angus Buchanan, S. Wales Borderers. —During an attack an officer was lying out in the open severely wounded about 150 yards from cover. Two men went to his assistance, and one of them was hit at once. Captain Buchanan, on seeing this, immediately went out and, with the hell) of the other man, carried the wounded officer to cover under heavy machine-gun fire. He then returned and brought in the wounded -aian, again under heavy fire. Second-Lieut. Edgar Kinghorn Myles, Welsh R.—He went out alone on several occasions in front of our advanced trenches and, under heavy rifle fire, and at great personal risk, assisted wounded men lying in the open. Lieut. T. O. Lawder Wilkinson, N Lanes. —During an attack, when a party of another unit were retiring without their machine gun, he rushed forward and, with two of his men, got the gun into action and held up the enemy until they were relieved. Later, when the advance was checked during a bombing attack, he forced his way forward and found four or five men of different units stopped by a solid block of earth, ov,er which the" enemy were throwing bombs. With great pluck and promptness he mounted a machine gun on the top of the parapet, and dispersed the enemy bombers. Subsequently he made two most gallant attempts to bring in a wounded man, but was 6hot through the heart just before reaching tho man. Sergt. Claude Charles Castleton, Aus. M.G.C.—CJastleton went out twice in face of intense fine, and each time brought in a wounded man on his back. He went out a third time, and was bringing in another wounded man when he was himself hit in the back and killed instantly. Corpl. Joseph Davies, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. —Before an attack on the enemy in a wood, he became separated with eight men from the rest of his company. When tho enemy delivered tlieir .second counter-attack his party were completely surrounded, but he got them into a shell hole and, by throwing bombs and opening rapid fire, routed the. enemy and bayoneted several. Corpl Sidney William Ware, Seaforth Highlanders.—An order was given to withdraw to the cover of a communication trench. Ware, whose cool gallantry had been very marked during the advance, was one of the few men remaining unwounded. He picked up a wounded man, and carried him some 200 yards to cover, and then returned for others, moving to and fro under very heavy fire, for more than two hours, until ho had brought in all the wounded and was completely exhausted. Pte. James Henry Flynn, Sth. Wales Borderers. — Seeing several wounded men lying out in front, he went out and bandaged them all under a heavy fire, making several journeys. He went back for a stretcher, and being unable to get one, carried on his back a badly wounded man into safety. Pte. Albert Hill, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. —When his battalion had deployed under very heavy fire for an attack on the enemy in a wood, he dashed forward when the order to charge was given, and, meeting two of the enemy suddenly, bayoneted them both. He was sent later by his platoon sergeant to get into touch with the company, and finding himself cut off and almost (surrounded by some twenty of the enemy, attacked them with bombs, killing and wounding many, and scattering the remainder.

When he got back, hearing that his company officer and a scout wore lying out iroutided, ho went out and assisted to bring in the wounded officer, two other men bringing in the scout. Finally ho himself captured and brought in as prisoners two of the enemy. Naik Shahamad Khan. Junjabis. Ho be;it off thivo counter-attacks and worked his machine gun single-handed after sill jus men except two belt-fill-ers had l)eoonie casualties. For three hours he held a gap under very heavy /ire while it was being made secure.