A WELLINGTON HERO

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 252, 12 July 1918, Page 6

A WELLINGTON HERO

1 LATE CAPTAIN OSCAR GALLIE, D.S.O. A BRIGADIER-GENERAL'S APPRECIATION Mr. John Gallie, of Stoke Street, Newtown, has received a letter from Briga-dier-General C. Ci. Stewart, commanding i 33rd Divisional Artillery, showing his . great appreciation of tlie character uml i military spirit of the late Captain Osc.u i Gallie, of Wellington, who was killed at Passchemlaele. After describing how ens officer met his death (through shell-shock i in a big Gorman pill-box at Otto Farm, four miles from Ypres), General Stewart , says:— J 'Tour son was one of the bravest men ' Ihave ever had the honour of meeting. « You know, I preyime, all about liis con- J duct iu action nt Mill GO during the third battle of Ypres. When things wero at their worst he was always to the foie, about among his men, joking and oiieer- ' ing them up, ever the first at a dangerous task, from putting out a lire in the am- J munition to tending wounded men or walking up and down behind his guns ! unler lieavy fire to 'encourage his men . by his presence,' as the drill book puts < it. He was admired and popular with 1 all ranks, and his death threw a gloom ' over us all. Jlc was an officer, wo all j took pride in having amongst us and of ' us. Ho was just the same up to tiio •' end, and he seemed to bear a charmcd 1 life, as he never spared himself ... I assure you that all ranks loved and admired him, and his memory will remain green in the 33rd Divisional Artillery for . many days to come. I often quote nis ' example to my fellows as one of the 1 most gallant soldiers and gentlemen ' imaginable. Please do not think that 1 1 write this to please you. I feel sad when I think of him, for I had a great per- i sonal affection for him, for his great courage and spirit. Such officers are be- ' yond price, and though they fall their influence and memory remain. Wo am ! proud to think he was one of us. . . . In conclusion I wish I could do more. . All I can say is that with us, as with you, the memory of a most gallant otli- i cer and gentleman is treasured and. honoured, and will live long with us." By the same mail Mr. Gallie received a letter from Lieutenant-Colonel ; Bernard Butler, of the 156 th Brigade, E.l'.A., in the course of which he says:— "Oscar was the hero of all the subalterns, and I think the men of this brigade wero all devoted to him. He was the personification of gallantry and devotion to duty, and wiili it all was always cheery and inspiriting. 1 tried to get hiiu the V.C. after tho Zillebekc fighting, but the authorities gave liiui the D.S.O. for it. I have no dou'ut you .. got the particulars of the acts for which he was decorated, but an award in the 1 field by the Commander-in-Chief of the ; D.S.O. to a subaltern is very unusual anrl a very great honour. The D.S.O. is normally reserved for majors and colonels." !