VICTORIA CROSS HONORS.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 231, 8 October 1901, Page 2

VICTORIA CROSS HONORS.

FIRST MEW ZEALANDER TO OBTAIN TROPHY. INCIDENT THAT WON THE CROSS. RESCUES TWO COMPANIONS AMIDST A HAIL OF BULLETS. (Special to Times.) Wellington, last night. Sergeant Havdliam, the lirst New Zealander to win the Victoria Cross in the ijoiith African wav. is a 7\ ellingtonian, and was formerly a blacksmith in the Government railway workshops. The incident that v . a him the cross is thus describe 1 by one of the troopers of the Fourth New Zealand Contingent who witnessed it : V detachment in which were Alex, and Archie McPhee, McCrae, Hart, Osborne, Sheehan, Baghurst, Peace. Tappen, Sexton, and O’Dowd, were chartered to eiuuge a kopje. No Boevs were seen, but when Hardham, Alex. McPhee, and McCrae, all of whom were in advance, were within a hundred yards of the summit | a hot tiro was poured down on them. ; v rush was immediately made for ; cover, but before they had gone far I Alex. McPhee fell from his horse, being 1 badly wounded. Sexton, llardham, and O'Dowd galloped through the hail oi bullets, and assisted and bandaged up the sufferer. Shortly afterwards, the Boers being driven back, he was taken up by an ambulance. Hardliam showed conspicuous bravery throughout the engagement. Before McPhee was wounded, Hardliam. I when galloping to cover about forty yards | ahead of McCrae, happened to look around | and saw the latter’s horse fail. lie im- ! mediately pulled up aiul rode hack under j a heavy tire, dismounted, and helped j McCrae'on his horse. Then gripping the t stirrup-irons, lie rail a- -ugsido till noth i were out of danger. Subsequently it was j found that McOrao’s horse had been | struck by twelve bullets, and Alex. I MePhoo’s by seven.

Hardham is at present in Wellington, having returned by the Tagus in July. Before he went to the front lie was a prominent footballer, and lias represented the province in this branch ol sport.