A WELLINGTON HERO.

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 35207, 18 May 1918, Page 4

A WELLINGTON HERO.

HIS VISIT TO BUCKINGHAM PALACE. Perhaps no soldier who lias gone from Wellington to the war achieved so much distinction and promotion in so short a time as the late Captain Oscar Gallic, B.F/A., son of Mr John Gallic, of Stoke street, Wellington. A.> a .second lieutenant he received th.) Military Cross on September 15, 1917; on October 15' the D.S.O. became his cherished possession; on October 20 lie was promoted to a full lieutenancy, and 11 days after became a captain.' The most remarkable of the four proud incidents was the fact that he, as a second-lieutenant, had won the D.5.0., an honour usually reserved for great gallantry by majors, lieutenant-colonels, and colonels. The late Captain Gallic (killed on December 8) was one of the few New; Zealand officers who have had the distinction of having the M.C. and D.S.O. orders pinned on their breasts by the King at one and the same time. Describing his visit to Buckingham Palace, Captain Gallic, in a letter to his - mother, said: "At 10.45 a.m. a general came along, took me into a room, and I bowed low to his Majesty' King George of England. There wore only four of us in the room—the general, 'a colonel, the King, and me. The King smiled and hold out his hand. He was in uniform, and standing by n big throne-like chair. Ho asked mo how long I'd been in France, what battles I had been through with mv battery, and the wonderful luck I have had lie remarked upon. He wished to know when I was returning t.) France and what 1 thought of the spirit of the British troops. We had a great yarn together, and then we shook hands aagin, and he wished mo all good luck. Just before shaking hands with him he pinned to my coat the Military Cross, and said : 'the Military Cross; it is line!' He then pinned on the D.S.O. and said: 'It is a splendid achievement, for «'» second lieutenant to gain the D.S.O. in the field, and I think tit is magni-fi(-<uil, and trust your good luck will con tin lie.' I again bowed and went, out. When 1 got to the main entrance of the Palace I had to walk between people on each side, clapping and cheering. ... I 'had to run the I'aunfclct light across the street all b; myself, and was jolly glad when Mrs 0 hopped on If and pushed me into a taxi hard by."