A SALVATIONIST'S V.C.

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2996, 6 February 1917, Page 7

A SALVATIONIST'S V.C.

THE HEROISM OF PRIVATE FYNN. Private Fynn was recently awarded the V.C. for bravery oil the field of Tiattle. The story of his deed -as told by an officer of his regiment, the South AValos Borderers, makes thrilling reading. Fynn's heroism (said an officer to a representative of tho "South AVales Gazette") was of the most self-sacrific-ing kind. He had no hope of any gain or recognition, but simply acted out of humanity. Ho said ho could not bear to see the wounded lying unattended, and he asked permission to go out to them. My first sight of him was'when ho was running across the open under heavy fire. Shells were churning up the .ground, sending huge pillars of dust and debris skyward. Bullets were as thick as bees around an overturned hive, but Fynn didn't r.eem to mind; he crossed and recrossed with materials to the men he went to assist, and with remarkable' coolness dressed their wounds under fire. Then, when they were all made as comfortable as possible, he came rushing back for a stretcher to move the worst cases. Ho could not get one; and had to go back without it. ■On the way back lie had to run tho gauntlet'of vory heavy fire, and several times we thought''he had fallen. Ho came under such a hot fire finally that he was forced to his knees, and craiv'od along the ground for ?omo distance. Then he got up, made a dash towards the cluster of wounded men, and dropped down amongst them. Wo thought he was hit, but ho was not. Shortly ho was sees to riso again and turn towards the wounded men. I heard afterwards that'he was . having aii argument as to who was in most urgent need of assistance, but he quick-' ly had a man on his hack and started on the return journoy. No soonor had lie set out than tho enemy opened fire. The. snipers seemed bent on bringing him down at all costs. His progress was painfully slow. We held our breath, and I am sure that many who had never bpfora in the heat of the battlo framed a prayer prayed hard for the hero's safety. At one moment ho had to stop, and wo thought tho cask was proving too much for him, but ho resumed the journey, and finally reached safety with his burden. Ho got a rousing cheer 1 He took a very short rest,- and declared ho was going out again. _ A comrade volunteered to go with liim. Tho enemy opened lire onco more as soou as they showed their heads above tho parapet, and the two men had a grim game at hide-and-seek with death all the time thoy wore dodging among the shell-holes between us and the wounded men. They took hold of ono of the badly . wounded and started to carry him in. Fynn's companion was hit and foil, but got up, and, though wounded, helped Fynn to bring in tho man they wore assisting. How they got through, God knows. It was a terrible ordeal. Death dogged their footsteps all the way,, and when they got within a few yards of our parapet, and were almost safe, the enemy redoubled their fire, and the three men were shot at from all quarters. They came through all right. Comrades rushed forward to assist them in,' and Fynn was warmly commended on all sides for his wonderful pluck.