A NEW ZEALAND HERO

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1917, Page 5

A NEW ZEALAND HERO

Our cables some time ago stated that Captain Cecil Humphries, of Christrimrch was awarded the Military Cross for an act of bravery on June 6. Further information contained in a private letter shows that the circumstances under which the decoration was won were as follows (the quotation being an extract from Use commanding officer's despatch) : "An ammunition train was being bombed by aeroplanes, and Captain Humphries, commanding SSo. 10 Labor Company, ar- ( rived on the scene and took charge of the party. Under this officer's guidance a,nd help eight trucks were salved. The, eighth was uncoupled by Captain Humphries and Sergt.-Major Harland, while tie ninth truck was burning fiercely, ond its load of shlßs was exploding freely. This remarkably gallant piece of work was carried out under' a bail of shell and fragments, anyone of which cootd ha.Ve> exploded the contents of the trueks which were being moved. I consider, from my observation of the explosion, that Captain Humphries and the other members of the party are deserving of tlte highest praise, &nd I have tbe honor to bring to your notice their ga.llant and valuable work." Captain Humphries, who is also the holder of the D.C.M.j, is one of tha "Old Contemptibles," as those who went to Prance prior to November, 1914, are known.