BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 October 1915, Page 5

BRITAIN.

REWARD OF VALOR. COLONIAL HEROES. London, Oct. 15. Victoria Crosses have been awarded to Captain Shout, Lieutenants Symons, Frederick Tubb, Hugo .Throssell, Corporals Alexander Burton and William Dunstan, and Privates John Hamilton and Leonard Keysor, all Australians, also to Corporal Bassett, a New Zealander. DETAILS OF GALLANT DEEDS. ON LONE PINE. Received Oct. 17, 3 p.m. London, Oct. 10. The following are details of the acts that gained the above the Victoria Crosses:— Captain Shout, for most conspicuous bravery at Lone Pine. Heading a small party he charged the trenches, and personally threw four bombs, killing eight men and wounding the remainder. He captured a further length of the trench, and continued to 'bomb the enemy under the heaviest fire till he fell severely wounded. He has since succumbed. Lieut. Symons, for bravery at, Lone Pine. Commanding a section of the newly-captured trenches he repelled several counter-attacks, and retook and captured a 1 sap, after shooting two Turks with his revolver. When the sap was under fire from three Sides he withdrew 'fifteen yards and built a barricade facing it. This was also fired, but he extinguished it and rebuilt the barricade, and finally he compelled the enemy to withdraw.

Lieutenant Tubb, for bravery and devotion to duty at Lone Pine, The enemy made a determined counterattack on a captured trench, and blew •up a sandbag barricade. Lieutenant Tubb led the men <back and rebuilt, it. The enemy's bombing parties twice blew up the barricade, but Lieutenant Tubbs, although wounded in the head and arm, with the greatest coolness maintained the position under tho heaviest 'bomb fire 1 . Lieutenant Throssell, for most-con-spicuous bravery at Ilill 60. Although severely wounded in several places, he refused to leave bis post until danger was past. Then he had his wounds dressed and returned to the firing-line until a medical officer ordered him out of action. His personal courage was hugely instrumental in saving a critical situation. ' Corporals Burton and Dunstan assisted Lieutenant Tubb in defending the captured trenches. Finally Corporal Burton was killed by a bomb which blew up the barricade. Private Hamilton, with an utter disregard of personal safety, exposed himself to heavy fire at Lone Pine in order to secure a 'better firing position against the bomb-throwers. His coolness and daring example encouraged the defenders, who drove off the enemy with heavy loss. Private Keysor, at Lone Pine on 7th August, threw back two live enemy bombs and continued throwing bombs, although he was wounded, saving an important section of trenches. On' August Bth he bombed the enemy out of their position. Although again wounded I and marked for hospital, he volunteered to throw bombs for another company whose bombers were lost, and he continued to do this until the station was relieved. Corporal Bassett is a New Zealand signaller. After the New Zealand infantry had established themselves on Chunuk Bair ridge, Bassett, in full daylight and under a continuous heavy fire, laid a telephone line to Chunuk Bair. He was subsequently brought under notice for more gallant work in repairing the telephone lines when under heavy fire. MORE DECORATIONS FOR COLONIALS. FOUR MAORILANDERS HONORED. Received Oct. 17, 3 p.m. London, Oct. 10. The London Gazette publishes the following list of decorations; — ! Colonels McCay, Pope, and Burnage (Australians) to be Commanders of the Hath; Colonel Plugge and Major Cf. S. Richardson (New Zealandors) to be Commanders of St. Michael and St. George; and Majors Turnbull and G. S. Smith (New Zealanders) to receive Distinguished Service Orders. A BRAVE ENGLISHMAN. " London, Oct. 10. Lieutenant Gearly, of the Ist East Surrey Regiment, has been awarded the Victoria Cross for conspicuous bravery at Hill'oo. CAPTAIN SHOUT, V.C. Received Oct. 18, 1.15 a.m. Sydney, Oct. 17. Captain Shout, awarded the Victoria Cross, was a native of New Zealand, but a resident of Sydney. He fought in the Boer war, where lie was mentioned in despatches./ Shortly after landing at Gallipoli he was wounded, and received further injuries at Lone Pine. Ilia wife first received a cable saying that he was killed,, and then one to the effect that lie was wounded, but a third confirmed the news of his death.