GREY-HAIRED DAREDEVIL.

Taihape Daily Times, 16 September 1918, Page 7

GREY-HAIRED DAREDEVIL.

An incident of the fight on Independence Day which greatly impressed the Americans was the daring of a grey-haired Australian officer, who planted a French flag on the ruins of Hamel. When the Australians and Americans swarmed into the village (Mr Pcrcival Phillips- relates) this officer, who has the reputation of being a "dare-devil,” produced a large tricolour from the pocket of his tunic, went to the top of the building in the Market Place, and proceeded to fasten it to an improvised staff. The village was under the observation of the enemy, and when the Germans saw this gay bit of cloth fluttering in the' morning breeze they turned their artillery on it, and did their best to shoot it down. Before the officer was able to scramble from his perch a shell knocked away one corner of the building, but with a grin of triumph he dropepd to the street unhurt-1 Throughout the day the‘enemy shelled th flag, but did not hit it.