DEEDS OF VALOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 August 1940, Page 6

DEEDS OF VALOUR

DURING FLANDERS RETREAT TWO VICTORIA CROSSES AWARDED. LIEUTENANT AND COMPANY SERGEANT-MAJOR. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day 1 p.m.) LONDON, August 23. The award of more Victoria Crosses is announced, making nine since the outbreak of war. The first is to Second-Lieutenant Richard Wallace Annand, of the Durham Light Infantry, who on May 15, while commanding a platoon on the River Dyle, twice single-handed, and despite wounds, drove off with grenades a party of Germans attempting to repair a bridge. He withdrew his platoon when ordered, but went back to the bridge and rescued his wounded batman, and wheeled him in a wheelbarrow until he himself lost consciousness as a result of wounds.

The second is to Company SergeantMajor George Gristock, who died from wounds. While holding a position on the River Escaut, on May 21, he went forward alone and destroyed an enemy machine-gun post, enabling his company's right flank to be re-established after a serious breach. Both SergeantMajor Gristock’s legs were severely injured and his right knee was badly smashed, before he destroyed the machine-gun post.