LOST HIS NERVE.
In an attack in the Somme district, out of. 200 men who "went over" only 32 returned. The story of how the courage of one youth failed him in this attack is told by Captain David Fallon, M.C., in the following words:— "One man of the reserve company, who had been ordered to take bombs to me, was found in a. dug-out, and when he Was askecT why lie hadn't carried up the bombs to my party he was frightened, and trembled so that he couldn't speak. He was taken to the rear, and eventually tried by the hold court-martial for showing cowardice in the presence of the enemy. He said he had attempted to carry these bombs up. to the attacking party, bin that a shell had dropped m lront o him killing the men just ahead ami splashing him with their blood, lie didn't know what happened then until he was roughly handled by the men who found him in the dug-out. As the youngest member of the courtmartial, 1 was allowed my first summing up, so that the senior members nii^ht not prejudice my decision. I. appealed to the court that the. man was not responsible for his actum.s m running away. The boy v,-as :k'C t uitted, and discharged at once.
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Bibliographic details
Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 9212, 5 February 1918, Page 7
Word Count
218
LOST HIS NERVE.
Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 9212, 5 February 1918, Page 7
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