GALLANT WORK RECOGNISED

Evening Star, Issue 17033, 2 May 1919, Page 2

GALLANT WORK RECOGNISED

Mr Bernard Portman, of Wadestown, Wellington, has received a very flattering letter written by General Six William Birdwood to his aon, Captain Bernard Victor Portman, of the Australian forces, who is at. present engaged in Army educational work in France. The text of the General’s Tetter is aefollows: —“1 write to send you my heartiest congratulations on the award' to yon of a bar to the Military. Cross, in recognition of your good and gallant work in our operations near Raiuecourt on the 11th August Inst. I should have written much earlier, but I regret it is only now that I have been advised of the award. You displayed very high powers of leadership and initiative in command of your company. On noticing a gap on the left flank, you immediately formed a defensive flank, which you maintained all day under a very heavy fire, while, single-handed, you rushed an enemy post, capturing the* garrison and two machine guns. Throughout your work was of a very high order, and you showed a splendid example to your men." Captain Portman, who is a nati w of Sydney and 27 years of age, went to Wellington when he was 11 years old, and received his education at the Wadestown School under Mr Joplin. When the war broke out he was living in Now South Wales, and he at once enlisted, pomr to New Guinea with the troops from that State. Six months later he returned to Sydney, and before long he was again away. After serving in Egypt he went to Gallipoli, and then to the western Pont, where he distinguished himself. Captain Portman has a literary bent, and is engaged in writing a wav bistory for the New South Wales Government. He aid another are the only officers remaining of those who belonged to his old battalion.