STAFF-SGT. MURDOCH McLENNAN.

Northern Advocate, 17 June 1920, Page 3

STAFF-SGT. MURDOCH McLENNAN.

The following excerpt irom an American journal concerning Staff Sgt. Murdoch MeLennan, who was born at The Cove, Waipu, and who died in the Auckland annexe on April 12, 1020, should be of interest to our readers It is believed thai Stall Sgt. MeLennan -»\ as with an American force in Mexico when the great war broke out, and although he went to the war with the American.: he. wa. a member of the B.E.F.

The excerpt is as follows:—

A very strange flag reached Ukiah from the trenches in France. It hangs in the window of the Commercial Beak.

Mr MeLennan, who i.-i known by many in and around Ukiah, and who worked for Mr L. C. Johnson, east of the river, is now a gunner on .an armoured tank in France. It was the .first American tank to go into'action.

On the 2_.nd day of March, 1918,' the day afler the great German drive comnieneed, one of the great armoured tanks with the Star Spangled Banner, only two feet, wide and three feet long, waving by its side, crossed "No Man's Land," went clear over the top of the first German trenches and returned with every man of the crew untouched by the withering fire of the German machine guns. The flag bears the marks of ten or more bullets which passed through it. .

Mr MeLennan, gunner of this fighting monster which plowed its way through the ranks of the German and across tho first trenches, has forwarded this precious, but battle scarred flag to Mr Johnson with the admonition to Jiinrd it tenderly.

The name of the tank on which this flag floated is "Just You Listen." The crew regarded the flag as affording them protection and safe return, after the most thrilling experience. The owner of the flag says it is priceless.

On the lower left hand corner is a small piece of ribbon which Mr MeLennan says was taken off of a good Ger-

man

This flag being displayed on our streets makes us feel more keenly that the war is a grim reality. As far as it is known this is the first flag to go over the top and Teturn, and come back to America.

Somebody ought to secure this flag as tho beginning of a collection of war souvenirs for Ukiah.