DASH FOR A MAXIM.
[. HOW CAPTAIN HAGGARD J'UIX. ' Corporal J. Abott, of tiu- 2nd Welsh Regiment, who was wounded at Ypres, and has now returned to his home in Cardiff, tells the following story of the skill and daring of Captain Mark Haggard, who was killed after the battalion crossed the Aisiic: — Our colonel told us to pusli on to thevillage of Boul by 10.30. My section was told off as a flank guard.' It was raining in torrents that morning, and us we were going through a field of wheat 'T saw on my left about seven or eight women and children, and I drew Captain Haggard's attention to them. Taking six men with him, he went off to investigate, and spotted a body of Uhlans driving the women and children in front of them. We could not fire at the enemy for fear of injuring the non-com-ants, so Captain Haggard and the six men, at great risk, worked around to the Uhlans' flank and opened fire on the. Three were killed, and the rest were driven to the rear of our battalion, who finished them off. Our adjutant captured one of the officers' horses, and he has ridden it • ever since.
As we advanced down the slope through a bit of wood, Captain Haggard "spotted" a Maxim. "We will have that Maxim, at any rate," lie said, and, taking six of my men witli him, he went off on his perilous enterprise. It was a very daring thing to do, but lie was so full of grit and courage that he did not mind, and the men would follow him anywhere.. As he was crossing through tlie wood they enfiladed us with very heavy rifle, and shell fire
But through it all Captain Haggard and the six men made-a dash for the Maxim, and he received three wounds >n tlie stomach. Lance-Corporal Fuller 1 (since aawrded the Victoria Cross) very bravely fetched Captain Haggard back under a murderous fire, and took him to the hospital, but he died the next day. His last words were, -'Stick it, Welsh'," a phrase he always used to encourage us in times of danger and on the march.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TDN19150120.2.49
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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 190, 20 January 1915, Page 6
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366DASH FOR A MAXIM. Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 190, 20 January 1915, Page 6
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