THE COLONEL'S CHARGE.

Taihape Daily Times, 6 March 1918, Page 6

THE COLONEL'S CHARGE.

o ♦STORIES OF WONDERFUL ACTS OF BRAVERY. LONDON, February 16. Another series of heroic acts has been gazetted in the list of winners of Victoria Crosses, seven of w r hom sacrificed their lives, Tho exploits include the gallant deeds of Lieut.-Colonel Neville EUiottCooper, of the Royal Fusiliers, who, learning that the enemy had broken through an outpost of the line, and was advancing across the open, rushed out from his dug-out, mounted the parapet and dashed forward calling on a reserve company and details from battalion headquarters to follow". Though absolutely unarmed, he made a bee-line for tho enemy and leading our men forced the enemy back 600 yards. He was severely wounded when 10 yards ahead, and signalled to his followers to w-ithdraw-, realising the insuperable odds against them and regardless of the know-ledge that he must be taken prisoner. The late Captain Walter Stone, of the Royal Fusiliers, though ordered to withdraw- his company and leave a rearguard, owing to an expected attack, remained w-hen he realised the unexpected rapidity of the onslaught He proceeded to telephone the most valuable information under a tremendous bombardment, and w-as seen fighting to the last when the rearguard was surrounded and cut to pieces.