NEW ZEALAND HERO

Manawatu Times, Volume XL, Issue 14020, 24 October 1918, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND HERO

DIED AT THE MOMENT OP SUCCESS. tAust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, Oct. 22. The Victoria Cross has been awarded to Sergeant Samuel Forsyth, New Zealand Engineers, for conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. In an attack Hearing the objective, Sergeant Forsyth's company came under heavy ma-chine-gun fire. Through his dashing leadership and total disregard for danger, three machine-gun positions were rushed and the crews taken prisoner before they could inflict any casualties. During the subsequent advance. Sergeant Forsyth's company came under heavy fire from several machine-guns, whereof he located two by a daring reconnaisance. In an endeavour to gain support from a tank, Sergeant Forsyth was wounded, but in the face of the heaviest fire he endeavoured to lead the tank to a favourable position. The tank, however, was put out of action, Sergeant Forsyth then organised the tank crew and several of his men into sections, and led them to a position where the machine-gunners could be outflanked (being all the time under fire), and brought about the retirement of the machine-guns, and thus enabled the British, advance to continue. At this moment a sniper killed Sergeant Forsyth. Throughout, his courage, coolness, and great power of initiative proved to be an invaluable incentive to all, and saved many casualties.