How the V.C. was Won in Somaliland.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7903, 1 August 1904, Page 3

How the V.C. was Won in Somaliland.

For conspicuous, bravery > i n ' ScmuliUxncl, the Xing has '. conferred the coveted' Victoria Cross on Lieutenant Clement Leslie Smith, of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infautrv. • . •'

_ The official announcement-was made in the. Gazette last month, and Lieutenant Smith is 'one of .three officers ." strongly recommended for favourable consideration .". by MajorGeneral C. C, Egfcrton, commanding the Somali field force.

ThnlKng, indeed, was the act that won the (Jros#. Hospital Assistant Kahamat Ali was hit early in the fight, with the Dervishes at Jidballi on January 10th. Lieut. Smith and Dr. Welland went out to his assistance, and endeavoured to bring him out. of action on a horse. But Ali was killed, and his two would-be rescuers were surrounded by t'hc enemy.

Helping the doctor on to a horse, Lieut, Smith turned its head to the lines of safety. Pate was against the two ; the beast went down with a crash. A passing mutfe was caught. There was another attempt to mount; the muiae was .'.killed. Then Dr. AVelland was speared, but h'is dauntless companion stood by him to . the encr, pouring the contents of.. Ms revolver into the surrounding foe. ..

I was muck astonished to find he had escaped with his life,"- reported Lieut. Stevens to the MajorGeneral. ■

Lieut. H. A. Carter, of the 117th Mahrattas, Indian Mounted Infantry, will be appointed to the Distinguished Service Order. During the fight at Jidballi on December 19th, he returned to the assistance of .Private Jai Singh, who had been dismounted in another p-art of the field. Taking him up behind him, he brought him safely to^his own lines

Similar gallantry in the name action was performed by Subadar Bhairo Gujar, 119th Infantry (the BJ'opltan Eegiment), and his conduct lias been brought to the notice of the Government of India.

Lance-Sergeant Thomas Gawn, Ist Battalion Hampshire Regiment, has keen granted the Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallant conduct during the action at Illig « ; n April 2L t.