HEROES EVERY ONE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15769, 18 November 1914, Page 4

HEROES EVERY ONE.

CHARGING THE - GUNS.

Brilliant work by a squadron of British cavalry is spoken of by Driver Herbert Gileland, of the R.F.A. who is at Woolwich Hospital. Dealing chiefly with the tierce fighting at Compeigne, he said, contrary to expectations, our men were ordered to resume retirement just before dawn, and were saddling up when a few horsemen were observed coming towards them. As the French were on outpost duty it -was thought these were the allies' scouts, but when it was too lato it was discovered they were Germans. "Most of our boys were at the bottom of a hill, when looking up wo saw the enemey at the top getting their guns into line. They commenced banging away, and 50 of our men were picked off before you could look round. We dashed under a haystack for cover, but we had not been long there before our captain —ho was a hero— shouted, 'Now you men who are not wounded, let us give them some of this ►before we go.' 'This' was a British gun lying seven or eight yards away from a haystack, livery man who was m a position to help left the shelter of the hay. stack and worked hard at the gun. 1 had not handed more than three or four shells across before I wa6 hit by a bullet from a bursting shell, and had to get back to the haystack. A wounded lieutenant was there, and although he was dying he insisted on bandaging my arm. As soon as he put me right he turned over and died. The sergeant, who had been very good to me, was torn to pieces by a she. I a few minutes later. The fptain and sergeant-major were now firing the gun. Suddenly a shell cut the captain's legs clean off and one of the bravest men who ever stepped left us. We were just giving up all hope when a squadron of our cavalry came along and charged the German gurs Many of the poor chaps were killed, and the horses were simply mowed down. What was left of our cavalry cut the German gunnel's to pieces. It was a magnificent if terrible charge, and there is not a man of the squadron but deserves the Victoria Cross."