VICTORIA CROSS HERO.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 November 1915, Page 10 (Supplement)

VICTORIA CROSS HERO.

CORPORAL BASSETT, V.C. It has been established practically beyond doubt that a New Zealand signaller named Bassett, who was mentioned in a cablegram published recently as having been awarded the Victoria Cross, is Cpl. Cyril Rogston fiuvton Bassett, son of Mp. F. C. Bassett, of Burleigh Street, Auckland. A letter which has just been received from Spr. Brian Dignun, of the Divisional Signalling Company, describes the incident in which Cpl. Bassett distinguished himself. It was after the New Zcalanders had made their great advance from Anzae early in August, and while they were hanging on to the ridge of Chmiak Bair. ''That day was nothing but laying wires and reeling in again all round tlie top of the gully," says Sapper Dignan. "T saw the Aucklanders, the Ghurkas, and some of Kitchener's men charge to take tlie ridge. The Aucklanders took the ridge itself. Then a night of dead sleep, followed by a day. of excitement. We had to lay a wire to the ridge in question. Two parties went over—Basßett's and mine. Bassett got held up by a wounded man in his party and by the Auckland Mounted Rifles, who were prevented by snipers from reinforcing. So my party got over first. Colonel Malone, of the Wellington Battalion, took my name, as I was the first up. I believe the others are going to get something also, as they were recommended by the Brigadier. It was nothing much—only taking the wire over under the sniper's fire, and later coming back with with an urgent message, when the wire was dished. The Auckland boys in it were Bassett, Whitaker, and myself—all College Rifle nien. Bassett will probably get something, as he has been mentioned once already, and he also mended the wire under Are. Poor old Whitaker was hit, and we couldn't get him out till next night. Bassett has gone sick, and I am now in command of the lines and telephones." Corporal Bassett's previous exploit, to which Sapper Dignan refers, is mentioned in a letter received by Bassett's relatives some time ago from Motor-cyclist R. E. Tonkin, who has since been killed at the front. "You will,"he says, "'be pleased to hear that Cyril has been mentioned in despatches for doing good work on 2nd May. Ido not. know exactly what he did—laid out wires, or something of the sort, under fire. However, it tame out in Orders last night, and he and three or four others in the 9eetion were Inentioncd."

Corporal Bassett, who is now twentythree years old, was educated first at the Auckland Grammar School. Later, he joined the Newmarket staff of the National Bank, and resigned that service to join the Division Signalling Company, and leave with the Expeditionary Forse. He was promoted to corporal after he had reached the front. He was a wellknown yachtsman. Corporal Bassett was reported to be sick at Malta on 21st August. Later, he entered the Leicester Hospital, England, whre he is now convalescent.

The young hero's mother stated yesterday that the boy had made no reference in his letter to the events which led to his being decorated or to the fact that ho had been mentioned in despatches.. Slic described him—lier only son, by the way—as being very quiet and modest when his own qualities were under review. He wrote long letters about the war, but nothing about himself. Mrs. Bassett said that the boy came of a family of soldiers. His great-grand-father was Captain and Adjutant J. Powley, and his grandfather was a New Zealand pioneer, Mr. T, E, Powley, and one of seven brothers, all of whom belonged to the 96th Regiment.