WAR NEWS

Grey River Argus, 1 August 1940, Page 5

WAR NEWS

Captain’s Gallantry OFFICIAL ACCOUNT (Received July 31, 5.5 P- m -\ RUGBY, July 30. A Gazette describes the gallantry o Captain Ervine-Andrews as follows. “Captain Ervine-Andrews took over about a thousand yards of defences m front of Dunkirk, his line extending along the Canal De Bergues, and the enemy attacked at dawn on May 31. For over ten hours, notwithstanding intense artillery, mortar and ma-chine-gun fire, and in the face of \astly superior enemy forces, Captain Ervine-Andrews and his company held the position. The enemy, however, succeeded in crossing the canal on both flanks, and, owing to superior enemy forces, a company of Captain Andrews’ own battalion, which was despatched to protect his flanks, was unable to gain contact with him. There being a danger of one of his platoons being driven in, he cai'ed for volunteers to fill the gap, and then, going forward, climbed on top of a straw-roofed barn, from whien he engaged the enemy with rifle and light automatic fire, although at the time the enemy was sending mo Jar bombs and armour piercing bullets through the roof. He personally accounted for seventeen of the enemy with a rifle, and for many more with a Bren gun. Later, when the houie which he held had been shattered by enemy fire, and set alight, and ail his ammunition had been expended, hr- sent back wounded in the remaining carrier. He then collected the remaining eight men of the company from this forward position, and

when, almost completely surrounded, led them back to cover afforded oy a company in the rear, swimming or wading up to the chin in water for over a mile. Having brought all that remained of his company safely back, lie once again took up his position.

AIR RAID WARDEN DECORATED

RUGBY, July 31

Donald Jones, of Kent, aged 18 is the first air raid warden to be decorated with the Empire Gallantry Medal. Jones, with his own body, skeltered air raid victims for four hours when heavy building material seemed likely to collapse.