THE BOY SCOUT AND THE SNIPER.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 238, 29 December 1916, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE BOY SCOUT AND THE SNIPER.

Having misrepresented his age to the authorities a Croydon Boy Scout, an ex-choir boy, joined the Royal Field Artillery in December, 1914 (says a London paper). After training in this country he was sent to France and put on duty driving with the guns. In the summer of 1916, being then 16 years old, he was put on to despatch riding. One night last year, in a wood, the boy's horse suddenly reared and immediately fell, shot through the breast. By rearing the horse had saved his rider's life, but it rolled over on the boy's leg, pinn'ng him down. Knowing that if ho moved there would be another shot, the boy quietly drew his revolver and lay still for 20 minutes. Then the sniper came out of his hiding place and as he approached the buy got first shot home.

Guided by the shots, a search party hunting for this snipar came up and released the boy from the dead horse, uninjured. Concealed in the wood was a supply of provisions, an..' on the body of the German was found what was supposed to be a long list of his sniping succers&s. The lad was discharged at the request of his mother, after a service of one year 221 days, it being proved that he was 17 vears old on August 15.