A LONE HAND CHARGE

Taihape Daily Times, 3 December 1917, Page 6

A LONE HAND CHARGE

(By Eric Fisher Wood, in the Saturday Evening Post.) A certain Australian was granted the Victoria Cross not only because he performed a very gallant feat, but also because the British General Staff desired to call attention to the fact that he had made a classic use of his rifle and bayonet. 'A small enemy strong point, which lay in front of the trenches occupied by his platoon, had proved very troublesome. Artillery bombardments and other ordinary methods of attack had failed to silence it. When these had proved ineffective the Australian suggsted that he be allowed to attempt a surprise single-handed. The strong point was held by eight Germans, but their exact number was unknown to the Australian when ho yolantecred to attack them. t

Though he belonged to the bombing squad of his platoon, and was, therefore a specialist in the use of that weapon, he, nevertheless, took with him no bombs, but relied solely on his rifle and bayonet, which is the correct procedure in offensive fighting in close quarters He climbed out of his trench and aided and supported by the snipers, rifle grenadiers, bombers, and Lewis guns of his own section, was able to creep unobserved within fifty or sixty yards of the enemy position He was then so close to his objective that his owm platoon was forced to cease fire, for fear thata he might be hit Left entirely to his own resources, he rose to his feet, and charged towards the enemy, one of whom, being no longer kept under by opposing fire, looked out towards the British lines to see what w-as going on The German was startled by the sight of a single British soldier charging towards him, and already within fifty yards In his surprise he fired a single ineffective shot, which, however, served to give his comrades in the trenches behind him the alarm

Though the Australian’s one desire was to come to close quarters as quickly as possible, he, nevertheless, realised that if he allowed the German to fife at him without retaliation, they would bo able to aim calmly, and would certainly bring him down At tho instant of the enemy’s first shot he, therefore, stopped abruptly, and before the one German in sight could aim again, he made a quick snapshot and hit the Boehe between the eyes.

Spattered with his brains, the other Germans, who, at the osund of his shot had started to join him on the parapet, on seeing his fate, hesitated just long enough to allow the Australian a moment in which to resume hil’ rush. Taking full advantage of this pause, he covered half the remaining distance before the other Germans could recover their wits. He reached tho parapet, fired a third deadly shot, as he leaped into their midst, and there killed the five now demoralised survivors with the cold steel.

Aided again by the protecting fire of his platoon, which covered his retreat, he returned unhurt to his own line.

The platoon organisation, cemented together by discipline, gave him the opportunity for victory; but the victory itself was achieved by the will to use the bayonet.

The support of his platoon organisation had enabled him to advance up' molested within fifty yards of his,objective; but from that moment he was thrown on. his own resources, and his agility, courage and skill in the use of the rifle and bayonet had enabled him to despatch eight enemies and to win the coveted Victoria Cross. The bayonet is still the decisive weapon in battle, just as it has been since first man fashioned an edged weapon. The will to use the bayonet shares equally with discipline the distinction of being the deciding factors in war.