WOMEN DECORATED FOR VALOUR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15884, 3 April 1915, Page 6 (Supplement)

WOMEN DECORATED FOR VALOUR.

Seldom in the world's history docs one find instances of women being decorated for valour on the battlefield, for the simple reason that opportunities for deeds which would earn for them the Victoria, Cross are verv few. Nevertheless, instances can be found, and nowhere more than in France, where the heroic woman has little to complain of as regards public recognition of her services. Since Napoleon founded the Cross of the Legion of Honour, probably a score or more wo"nen have been decorated fur personal bravery in warfare, but unfortunately, only one or two of their names have been preserved, as the Palace of the Legion d'Honneur was burnt down during the Commune and all the records destroyed. Napoleon himself decorated at least seven women lor valour. The chief ot these was Anne Biget (Scour Marthe), who was a Sister of .Mercy, and earned the Cross of the Legion ot Honour for her devotion to the sick and wounded, in the care of whom she risked her life constantly. Hie other women on whom Napoleon bestowed the Cross were disciples of Joan of Arc, who shared the perils and hardships of their menfolk, enlisting and lighting gallantly. Another woman earned the decoration for valour when France was fighting Ccrmany in 1870. Mile. Dodu, a postmistress at i'lthviers, a village which had ia'.len into the hands of the invaders, destroyed a message winch she had been ordered to transmit, lor this she was court-martial-led by the Germans ami condemned to death. On the arrival ot Prince Frederick, however, she was released, the Prince him self complimenting her on her superb cour-

age. Mme. Carrier, who, during the massacre of the Armenians in 1879, stood, with revolver in hand, beside her husband, and valiantly defended the French Consulate at Siwas, where many refugees had flown for shelter, received the French "V.C." for her heroism, as did Mme. dc Ro.«thorn, an Austrian lady, who took part in the war in China in 1900, fighting gallantly in defence of the French Legation, and only retiring when seriously wounded.