O'LEARY, V.C.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 258, 10 April 1915, Page 5

O'LEARY, V.C.

CAPTURES THE ENEMY'S POSITION UNAIDED. | London, February 20. Lance-Corporal Jtichael O'Leary, Ist Battalion Irish Guards, has won his V.C. for a deed such as recalls the achievements of legendary heroes. He killed eight Germans, took two prisoners, and practically captured the enemy's position. The London Gazette thus coldly recites the facts: — No. 355(5, Lance-Corporal Michael O'Leary, Ist Battalion, Irish Guards. For conspicuous bravery at Cuinchy on February Ist, 1915. When forming one of the storming party which advanced against the enemy's barricades he rushed to the front and himself killed five Germans who were holding the first barricade, after which he attacked a second barricade, about sixty yards further on, which he captured, "after killing three of the enemy and making prisoners of two more. Lance-Corporal O'Leary thus prac-« tically captured the enemy's positiOT by himself, and prevented the rest of the attacking party from being fired upon. Such an achievement has not escaped "Eye-Witness." In his account to-day that writer says:— "It will he remembered that on ieliraary 1, after recapturing a trench which the Germans liad taken from us a few hours before, we gained by successive attacks two posts on the canal bank. During the fight one of our men showed conspicuous gallantry. Charging ahead of his comrades, be took uo his position on a mound, and shot several of the fleeing Germans at pointrange as they ran past him. Tie then Tan on up to a barricade where two ot the enemy were manning a mae.une-gun ! and kept them in play until the rest of our men came up and captured it.