A BRAVE SOLDIER

Evening Star, Issue 16993, 15 March 1919, Page 9

A BRAVE SOLDIER

Private Clydesdale, whose mother resides in Duncan street, Dunedin, and who left New Zealand with the Ninth Reinforcements, performed a gallant deed on April 24, 1918, for which he was awarded the Military Medal. Writing to the officer commanding the Second Battalion, Otago Eegiment, Captain Chapman, commanding the 4th Company, states :—'' I wish to bring to your notice tlie distinguished conduct and brave action of Private Clydesdale. In the sector held by this company the closeness of the enemy position enabled him to constantly bomb our posts. On bis own initiative, Private Clydesdale, in broad daylight on April 24, and under direct observation from' the enemy, crawled out to an enemy post and removed the detonators from all their bombs. This was done behind a German sentry, who was standing only a few yards away. Private Clydesdale then withdrew a few yards, shot the German sentry, and bombed the post. There was no retaliation on the part of tho enemy. Early next morning the enemy attempted to raid our lines from this post, using bombs which failed to go off owing to the good work of Private Clydesdale the day before. Private Clydesdale has been on patrol work for some time, and ha-s always shown great keenness and initiative." Unfortunately, Private Clydesdale lost his life shortly afterwards, being killed on May 25, 1918. He was tho second member of the family to make the supreme sacrifice.