HOW A V.C. WAS WON.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 26 November 1915, Page 3

HOW A V.C. WAS WON.

BY CAPTAIN SHOUT.

(Brother to T. Shout, Taihape)

After nearly three complete days’ fighting in the Lone Pine trenches during the longest and fiercest hand-to-hand struggle which yet occurred in the peninsula, the Turks still held a big communication trench, winding almost, directly into the heairt of this maze of trenches. This trench led almost directly to a point which was at first chosen for headquarters, and while Brigadier Smythe was standing outside his office the Turks had come up the tirench; marching calmly three abreast round the last elbow into full view of some who were standing with the headquarters party. Only a low barricade, breast high, separated them. Lieutenant Howell-Price, now commanding the 3rd Battalion, shot two with his ’revolver. Tjhe Ist Battalion, coming in shortly after to relieve part of the garrison, Captain Sass, of that battalion, decided it was worth while to see how much of this sap could be captured. Accordingly he called foe- three men to follow him carrying no rifles, but only sandbags, and started. His method ■was for himself to run forward to the next bend of the trench, fire (round it fiercely whether the Turks were there or not. The men placed their sandbags in front of him, making a low parapet, Then he ran on to the next bend, and repeated the process. He shot about twelve Turks, and won about. 20 yards of trench before stopping. Early that afternoon Captain Shout came along and joined his friend. They had a talk and decided they could go farther. They started together, Captain Sass with a rifle and Shout with bombs. Shout had a good look round to ree the position, and then pushed the barricade, Down went the forward two abreast, Sass shooting and Shout bombing, As Shout’s bombs fell those following could hear the rustle of accoutrements, scrambling, and cries round the next corner. They finally reached a point where it was decided it was suitable to build the last barricade. Captain Shout, who all the time was laugh-

in,g joking, and cheeking the men immensely by his example, resolved to make a big throw before the final dash and tried to light three bombs at once so that they might be quickly thrown and hte Turks prevented from hindering the building of the barricade. He ignited all three and threw one. Then either the second or third burst as it was leaving his hand and shattered one hand and most of the other, destroyed one eye, laid open '* his cheek, and s<mrchcjj his bbeast and one leg. Ceptain t bout nevertheless remained conscious, talked cheerfully, drank tea, and sent a message to hi? wife. Since the day of his arrival he has been the heart and soul of this section. In the firing line his invincible buoyancy and cheerfulness were a great help to the m en.