BEST SHOT IN THE ARMY

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 70, 20 September 1915, Page 8

BEST SHOT IN THE ARMY

The public has heard a good deal about the prowess of Capt. WaUingford, who was, and probably still is, the finest shot in the British Army. The British Army claims that he is the greatest shot in the world. A member of his company who has come' back with a wound which almost proved mortal relates with pride some of Capt. Wallingford's exploits. In a letter homo it may be remembered that this officer wrote that after several, weeks at the front, that day was the first on which he ( had not killed a Turk. This man left the front on 27th June, and be claims that Capt. Wallingford's tally up to that^ time, with the rifle alone, leaving out, of account altogether the terrible machine gun, was over 700 Turks. As a marksman he is a wizard. One incident this soldier related. "Do you see that bush there," said Captain Wallingford one day, pointing to a harmless looking bush about sixty yards away. " Well, watch it." They watched, and 'saw that it moved very slowly. " I think we'll give him a chance," said Captain Wallingford, which meant that instead of using his rifle he would use a revolver. He drew his revolver and fired quick as a flash. The animated bush collapsed, and the Turk that it hid rolled over quite dead. On another occasion Captain Wallingford played one of his practical jokes on the Turks in the opposing trenches. " I think we'll make the beggars waste some ammunition presently," he said. Then h© passed the word that when he shouted an order the company was to fire "five rounds rapid " and then stop. As the narrator tells: "We fired our five rounds rapid in five seconds or so, and they kept on firing for an hour and a-qnarter, expecting u» to attack. We stayed shng in our trench, of course. I guess we've got more ammunition left than they have." This joke was practised very often with good effect in tho first months, but now the Turk is more wary, and probaftty ammunition is more scarce.