HONOURING A HERO

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3037, 26 March 1917, Page 6

HONOURING A HERO

BRITISH SOLDIER'S RESOURCE IN : ' A TIGHT .CORNER, Tho "Liberto's" correspondent in Northern France gives an account of a simple 'but impressive ceremony at l> ■ not far from the Somnie front, where General W— —, in tho presence of a large number of high British and French officers, 'presented the Military Medal and the War Cross with, palms to a British private, who, by his coolness, courage, and , resource, frustrated a German' attack.

The correspondent,- who gives the soldier's name as "Jaok," says: "Jack belonged to a battalion .which had arrived in the sector of —— to relieve two French companies in the trenches. The operation proceeded at first without incident, the Boches confining themselves to shelling freely the communication trenches, but when tie French troops were getting out, after wishing their British comrades 'Good luck,-' the Germans hurled half a battalion to'the attack. . ■' ■ •

"Jack by this time was in an advanced post well beyond our line, to which lie had gone as a ( volunteer to watch, the German lines. When the Boches came over the top Jack sent up a flare to. give the alarm, and prepared to sell his life dearly. Crouching behind his parapet with his rifle, he calmly awaited the first wave. Jack allowed the attackers to come within thirty yards, and then opened fire, killing six Germans. ' , ■ "The wave broke, but there was still, danger, for a' second wave came on: • Jack once more proved' himself an excellent marksman, accounting . for three Germans. Now, however, the post was being surrounded, and the solitary guardian gave up hope. But his nerve did not fail him. He dashed from his shelter, and shouting 'Come on, men!' as if he.were leading troops to the assault, the Boches, fearing an attack in the rear, fell back hurriedly. They soon saw how they had been fooled, and returned to the charge, but this time our 75'e mowed them clown, the splendid coolness of the British private having given them time to come up and smash the enemy's attack. Some time later a patrol went out to the post and found Jack lying in front of the parapet with a bullet wound in his breast, He is now well on his way to recovery." . • ,