BOY IN SOMME BATTLE

Evening Star, Issue 16778, 5 July 1918, Page 3

BOY IN SOMME BATTLE

TOOK DESERTER’S PLACE. SHOT DOWN MANY GERMANS. An Ilford boy, Henry Arthur 81-eveua, who, although only 15, fought for 16 days against the Germans in the Somino offensive, is the hero of one of tho finest stories of youthful patriotism and pluck which the war has yet revealed. It has the additional charm of supplying a touching instance of a lad’s devotion to an older brother, who, temporarily, at any rate, forgot hie dut}-, and deserted from tho Army. Young IStovons was charged at Eolkest-ons with wearing military uniform without authority. Tho boy, who is sturdily built, was wearing khaki, out was not placed in the dock, and Iho chief constablef.nkl that tho military authorities felt that, in tho _ on cum* stancca, they could not prooood against the boy, therefore there was no evidence to offer. Tho chief constable then told tho Court i about tho desertion of tho elder Slovens, j vrliou hr, wa-s home on leave last. November, tic could not bo found, and this young' lad was greatly distressed at bin brother’s clcser- ] lion. In February he dressed himself in | khaki and surrendered to tho police at. Ilford, | impersonating his brother. Ho was accord- j ingiy handed over to tho miluary luuhori-! tics, and sent to France i-o ti;a unit- to which | his brother belonged. He- was sent to the ■ util, which was in the front lino, and for 16 : days was engaged in the recent offensive by ■ tha Germans. During that time, he said, ho killed a good many Gormans; in fact, hj? : could not miss them. Ho was sent back when it whs found ho was not the right i man. j Tho Magistrates, in discharging tho hoy, ] expressed their warm appreciation of his; pluck. I lu a statement made Inter young Stevens | said lie bought the uniform he was wearing j when ho gave himself up. His parents did not know what had become of him until h,wrote to them from 7 r.-.iioo. Ko served

with the Northants. Ho added that he had a rough time, but be was sorry he had been sent homo. He had never clone any drill or firwl a rifle previously. Tho first time he used a rifle was when he fired at a German aeroplane, which was low down, and the recoil from the shot knocked him over. Ke wondered what had happened, un - ■quickly learned to use tho rifle, and yihoi, down ninny Gormans who oame on in a mass. He added Chat he was disappointed that he could not stay in France.