CHASED BY TANKS

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 August 1940, Page 5

CHASED BY TANKS

ARMY DESPATCH RIDER

LONDON, June 21.

The Military Medal has been awarded to Private J. Plews, ol the Bluffs, who delivered a message during the. Battle of the Bulge, in spite of being chased by tanks. A company on his battalion’s extreme right sent headquarters a message that enemy tanks were 500 yards away advancing from Doullens toward Arras. Plews was sent to tell this company to withdraw to Trevant if unable to hold the enemy. On his way there he met three German light tanks. He tried to take cover, but one saw him and opened fire at 500 yards range. Plew’s motorcycle was wrecked by machine-gun fire, but he was uninjured. One man left - the tank and advanced toward him. Private Plews let him get to within 30 yards, then fired six rounds with his pistol and killed his attacker. Then the tank turned on him. Plews quickly broke the petrol pipe of his cycle to let the petrol out and made for cover. The tank fired several bursts. Plews was still unhurt. After running for about 700 yards, he came to a road. ■ He held up a car and jumped on the running board. This took him three miles to another detachment. There he borrowed another motor-cycle and started again to deliver his message.

Near Doullens he met German heavy tanks. He rode his cycle off the road under the trees. The tanks fired, but without effect. He was forced by the ground to return to the road. Again the tanks fired, this time disabling the motor-cycle.

Private Plews took cover in a house until they had passed, then set out on foot and delivered his message.