REWARDS FOR GALLANTRY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16022, 14 September 1915, Page 8

REWARDS FOR GALLANTRY.

RECORDS OF -HEROISM.

DEEDS THAT WILL LIVE. London, September 12. Ten Distinguished Service Orders have been awarded. The. recipients and their services are as follows: — Cecil P. Talbot, for torpedoing a destroyer off the German coast on July 26. Commander John D. Waterlow, for mine-sweeping in th& Dardanelles on March 13-14, through a power-fully-illuminated area under fire of four forts and numerous light guns. Lieutenant - Commander Edgar Cookson, who was severely wounded in reconnoitring up a creek in the Euphrates Valley on May 9.. He had his wound temporarily dressed and then resumed command, extricating his launch from a position under heavy rifle fire. Lieut.-Commanders C. Herbert, C. C. Dodson, and Archibald Cochrane, for torpedoing shipping in the Sea of Marmora and blocking a railway line, shelling a troop-train, and blowing up three ammunition cars. Captain Ernest Sketchley, who, with Lance-Corporal J. Way, showed great courage and powers of personal leadership. He rallied his men to the southward of AcTii Baba on July 13 and retook lost trenches. Lieutenant Mark Singleton, commander of a launch, for intercepting and securing the surrender early in June of 250 Turkish troops, this act largely contributing to the capture of Amara. Surgeon Basil Plavne, for conspicuous bravery. He was several times mentioned for gallant deeds under heavy fire near Gaba Tepe. Flight Squadron Commander Bigsworth, who destroyed a submarine single-handed off Ostend. He manoeuvred for position under heavy fire from the shore batteries and from the submarine. He displayed great coolness, descended to 500 ft, and secured a good line for dropping bombs with full effect. Distinguished Service Crosses have been awarded to the following amongst others— Naval Reserve Sub-Lieutenant Frederick Parslow, for service on the Anglo-Californian, which was attacked by a submarine on July 11. The vessel was subjected to heavy gunfire. He steered the ship throughout the action and maintained his post after his father (the captain) had been killed by a shell, until a patrol boat arrived and drove off the submarine.

Chief Engineer James Crawford, of the Anglo-Californian, who' was largely instrumental in securing the escape by maintaining a maximum speed, despite a shortage of firemen.

Acting-Lieutenant Alan Alcock, who, with Lieut. Empson and a platoon of 60 men, defended an isolated trench at Gaba Tepe against overwhelming odds for four nights and three days. Empson was killed.

Most of the gallant acts mentioned above are now made public for the first time. Some, however, have been referred to in the cables before, among them the sinking of a German submarine by Flight Squadron - Commander Bigsworth.' The feat was thus described a fortnight ag&— " Squadron-Commander Bigsworth, from an aeroplane, single-handed dropped a bomb upon and destroyed a German submarine off Ostend to-day. The Admiralty announces that the submarine was completely wrecked, and sank. This brilliant feat was performed in the immediate neighbourhood of that portion of the coast occupied by the enemy, and a German destroyer located the position of the sunken submarine."