A BENDIGO HERO.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10113, 22 October 1917, Page 5

A BENDIGO HERO.

DIES TO SAVE HIS MEN. “MAKE WAY FOR LIBERTY.” AUSTRALIAN HEAD QUARTERS, LONDON. Oct. G, The story of Thursday’s fighting is full of individual sacrifice by the British and Australian troops. Australian brigadiers pay The highest tributes to the officers and men, many of whom gave their lives knowingly but gladly as the price of victory. A typical and most moving story is that of a Bendigo divinity student, Kveay, details of which are vouched for by men and senior officers. Eveay was 2-1 years of age. He left with the Victorian unit in the earliest days of the war, and Tonght at Gallipoli, first as a private, then as a non-commissioned officer. Ho was in every fight, and was wounded five times. But when his battalion commander planned leave for him from the battle lie insisted on being paraded before the general, whom be told that ho most strongly desired to

lead Ida men to the fight. “If someone is to stay out,” he said, “let it he my captain.” Eveay got permission, and went into the battle. He played a wonderful part throughout, which was particularly intense and difficult on the Hank upon which he was engaged. He led his men to the assistance of the British.

Finally, lie encountered a very obstinate pillbox. Deploying his men, lie coolly dashed himself direct at the German strong point, thus drawing the full strength of the machine gun lire. His men, thus covered from behind and in flank, were able to storm the pillbox. The divinity student was riddled with shots, and died in a few minutes. His name deserves the greatest honour.

The sacrifice of Eveay recalls that of the' mediaeval hero of Switzerland, Arno Winckelried, who made a breach in the Austrian ranks by gathering an armful of the enemy's spears with his own body, an incident which forms the basis of the well-known poem opening; “ ‘Make way for Liberty!’ he cried; Make way for Liberty, and died.