OUR LATEST V.C.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 November 1918, Page 7

OUR LATEST V.C.

SERGEANT JGDSffiSfS CAREER.

(Speeial Dispatch from the New Zealand Official War CoreKpondent. Captain Malcolm Boss).

Cetober 29. «e military cw>er of Sergeant dndaon, our lattst V.C., is truly remarkable, he having; almost within one moutti, gained the 8.C.M.. the MiliUvv Medal, and the Victoria Cross. He got his D.CJVf. for heroic action on the front toe between Gommecourt and He-bu-.ternc. On July 24 he led a patrol by daylight along a sap leading' to the enemy's position. By bombing he forcod the enemy to retreat 600 yards, and «o enabled the following-up troops to garrison and hold the captured trench. For 24 hours he was untiring in big efforts to organise and hold the trench. Next .morning, almost at the time his unit wau to be relieved, the enemy pierced the line to tiho left, and he went ■alone to see what was taking place. He found ah; survivors of the garrison, whom he organised and posted, by fighting his way forward into the ok! position. Finding the officer dead at his po«t, he remained with these men until visited by their officer, wiho asked him to stay until the situation had been readjusted. This he did under very heavy bombing, and machine-gun fire. The enemy again collected for an assault, so fee crept forward alone and threw she bombs amongst them, thus drawing tlieir bombing in his own direction and so saving his men. Subsequently, on the same night, tihe enemy continued putting up flares from a position CO yards in front of the post, so he again crept forward and threw bombs. For. 48 hours his action and initiative in attack resulted disastrously tor the enemy.

On the MSth of tke following mdnth, near PuMesax, he exhibited courage of the highest order 1 . In order that the troops on our left might advance it was necessary that the enemy's machineguns should be promptly silenced. Any attempts to outflank the guns would result in severe casualties to the troops on our left. Judson, with bis section following, rushed straight at the gun positions, disconcerting the enemy and capturing three machine-guns and 17 prisoners, without loss to our side. For this Sie was awarded the Military MedaL Now for his action on August 26' he has won the V.C.