THE COVETED V.C.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 209, 2 September 1915, Page 6

THE COVETED V.C.

FIVE NEW AWARDS. VALOROUS DEEDS AGAINST THE TURK. (Received 12.10 p.m.) LONDON, September 1. Five Victoria Crosses have bren awarded for deeds of valour i.i the j operations agninst the Turku: — MAJOR WHEELER, of the Seventh ' Mariana Lancers, twice led "ils squadron j in .1 lance charge upon the Turkish position* nt Shaiba. He was killed onApril 13 wlien far ahrnd of his mi<mi [ ridintr ttingle-handcd straight for tho 1 Turkish st:inriard>. CAPTAIN O'STTLLIVAN, of the First lnniskillinjr Fusilier?. South-west of K1 itliia on the of July 1, when , it Mas essential that portion of a lost j trench should be regained, fapt. O'Sulli I van. although not belonging to the troops at that point, volunteered to lead the I bomb-throwers. Captain O'Sullivan, in J order to throw the bombs wtih jrreater effect, pot up on the parapet, where he was completely exposed to Turkish fire. He was finally wounded, but his inspiring example enabled the party to recapture the trench. SECOND LIEUTENANT ROCHFORT, of the First Scots Guards, on \usrii-?t ."rd. between ( ambrin and La Rnsse. A German trench mortar bomb landed near a working party. Lieut. Rochfort miaht easily have stepped around the corner in perfect safety, hut instead, he shouted to the men. look out. ran to the bomV and hurled it over the parapet. It explode;! immediately, but a splendid eomh-nation of presence of mind ami courage *aved ir.anv lives. SECOND LIEUTENANT JAMES. of the Fourth \Vorpe<tcr»h;re*. On July 25th. in the southern zone .it Hallipoli. when portion of a regiment was checked. owing to all the officers boinff killel or wounded, Lieut. James, who belonged to a neighbouring unit, gathered a bod\- of men and led them forward under heavy shell and rifle fire, then returned .iiul organised a second party, putting fresh life into the attack. Lieut. James on July 3rd headed a bomb-throwers' attack on" a Turkish communication trench. When nearly all were wounded he rema'.ned alone, and kept back the enemy singlehanded until a barrier was built behind him. and the trench secured, being throughout exposted to a murderous fire. SERGEANT SOMERS, of the First InnteKilling Fusiliers. On the night of Juli Ist, in the southern zone of Call:----poli, when some Britisli troops retired from a sap owing to bombing, Sergeant loners remained alone until a party brought up bombs. Sergeant Vomers then climbed a Turkish trench and bombed the Turks with great effect. Later be advance' in the open, and held back the enemy, throwing bombs on their flank until" a barricade wae established. Throughout he ran to and from the trenches obtaining freeh eupplies of bombs. His great gallantry and coolness was largely instrumental in recapturißg a. portion of our lost trench.