FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD WAR HERO

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2778, 24 May 1916, Page 5

FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD WAR HERO

WINS THE D.C.M. AT FESTTJBERT.' The Rev. D. J.-Hiley, the West Norwood Baptist minister, in the current issue of the "Norwood Pi-ess and Dulwjnh Advertiser," tells of how a fifteen-year-old Irish-Canadian, boj; won the D.C.M. The lad, Anthony Qrinley, joined "ihe Canadian Expeditionary Force when he was only fourteen, because, as Mr. lliley describes it, he wanted to do his'bit for his country. On his regiment's arrival on Salisbury Plain, so anxious was he to get to tho front that-ho crossed the Chanuel as a stowaway. It was during the battle of Festubert. that Grinley, who had become a busier, had his chance. The company to wliich he belonged was commanded to cross a bullet-swept zono to a certain position and there dig themselves in. As a result of being under a deadly fire during tho whole, journey, therei was not sufficient of the company left to form a platoon. Tho position was desperate, aad the officer in command wanted a volunteer to carry back to headquarters a messago as to their plight. The ono to volunteer .was the fifteen-yoar-old boy. The distanco ho had to traverse was about H.recquarters of a mile, but it was a terrible i'three-quarters. Anthony, however, got through to hoadquarters with his message, and then, in spite of the increasing hiiil of bullets, returned with the eel-, onel's orders.