THE VICTORIA CROSS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11538, 24 November 1900, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE VICTORIA CROSS.

The last issue of the London Gazette announces the conferment of the Victoria Cross on three gallant soldiers for exceptional bravery, as follows : — Captain William Engleson Gordon, of the Gordon Highlanders, during the action at Lechoehock, near Krugersdorp, on July 11 called for .volunteers to go out with him and try to bring in one of some big guns that lay useless under the fire of the enemy. He went out alone to the nearest gun and fastened a drag rope to it, then beckoned to his men, who doubled out to join him. This was i under a heavy fire at only 850 yards range. The attempt was not successful, but Captain Gordon would not retire until he had seen all the wounded removed. Pte. C. Ward, 2nd Batt, , King's Own Yorkshire Light infantry, at Lindley on June 26, when a picket was surrounded by 500 Boers at close quarters, undertook, with the almost practical certainty of being shot, to carry a message for reinforcements to the signalling station 150 yards in the rear. He went through a storm of shots, delivered his message, and returned severely wounded to assure his commanding officer the message had been sent. But for this gallant action the post would have been captured. Corpl. J. Shaul, of the Highland Light Infantry, at the battle of Magersfontein, performed several acts of bravery. He was in charge of stretcher-bearers, and not only , encouraged men to advance across the open, but was conspicuous all day attending to wounded men under the heaviest fire. In one case he sat down by a wounded man and dressed his injuries while he was a mark for a terrific fire from the enemy. The task finished, he coolly rose and walked to another , part of the field. "