PUKEKOHE'S SOLDIER HERO

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 423, 5 November 1918, Page 2

PUKEKOHE'S SOLDIER HERO

Pte. Wilson Welcomed Home Pukekohe's first and so far only military representative to gain the Distinguished Conduct Medal is Pte Joseph H. Wilson, third son of Mrs G. Wilson of Puriri Park, and his return home on Saturday last, although only for a brief week-end visit was very fittingly a public welcome being exrfnded »_ him in recognition of his gallanft deeds on the battlefield. V \ Pte. J. H. Wilson, who with the 20th cently arrived in Auckland on board \ a hospital ship suffering from bomb I wounds in both legs sustained at the Somme in June last, his left ankle being particularly severely injured. He is detained as a patient in the Hospital Annexe in Auckland but was granted week-end leave by the military authorities for the purpose of enabling him to visit his home. Being temporarily disabled he has to resort to crutches tn enable him to walk, his left foot requiring to kept free from the ground, wbik|£|, his pallid countenance also testimony to the hardships he endured. Otherwise, he is in high « spirits and the pleasure he ex- \ perienced at being once more m amongst his kith and kin was evi- 1 denced by his face being wreathed in smiles as he alighted at Pukekohe station from the Botorua exw. press from Auckland on Saturda]fl|p morning. , Although his home-coming was heralded by very brief notice the Borough Council's sub-committdL with Cr George Armstrong as venor, quickly got busy and arj presentative body of citizens headef by the Mayor (Mr H. G. R. Maßon]| greeted Pte. Wilson as het «' hopped " out of the train. In the| afternoon a largely attended public" reception was held in the Premier »| Hall, Cr. Barter, in the unavoidable 1| absence of the Mayor, officially wel- \ coming Pte. Wilson back to Pukekohe and Mr JC. Allan (Backlandl supplementing Cr Barter s rea*ktr*% with an eloquent dealing with the surrencWW Turkey. The Pukekohe Orchestra under the leadership of Mr J Hindman played appropriate selections including " Home Sweet Home." In the evening a dinner was given in Pte. Wilson's honour in the Pukekohe Hotel, Cr Batter presiding. Various 1j toasts were proposed, Mr W Routeston submitting " Our Guest, and Pte. Wilson briefly replying. Pte. Wilson went back to Auckland yesterday afternoon. It may be mentioned that the act for which Pte. Wilson was awarded > the D.C.M. was performed at the \ battle of Passchendale on October m 4th of last year. The company to which he was attached was being held up with the enemy's machine K un fire and Pte. Wilson with a ; comrade courageously workedjound on the flank to the spot iwhe%the gun was stationed and tht|w bombs at the gunners. The lafter, numbering about a dozen, thinking they were surrounded, emerged ffcm their emplacement, holding up theifchands in token of surrender, and %ere promptly taken prisoners by Pte. Wilson and his companion, the comV panythereby *eing enabled toadvance. Although he has not yet been officially advised, the document probably having gone astray during the time he spent in hospital m England, it is understood that fte. Wilson's name figures also among those who hav* gained the Military . Medal. This was the outcome of general aU round good work and I patrol duties performed at the battle of the Somme in March last when he received the wounds from which he . is now suffering. He was one of a ' party of twelve to whose lot it fell to raid a German trench, which they did effectively, although sevon of the raiders, including Pte. Wilson, were wounded by the bombs thrown at them in retaliation by the Germans. The other six wounded men successfully made their way back to the English lines but Pte. Wilson had to crawl along the ground, bullets raining around him. His Sergeant went to his rescue and whilst aiding him was hit by a machine gun bullet, which caused his death the following day. Eventually, however, Pte. Wilson reached the English outpost situation and medical treatment followed.