V.C.'S AT THE FRONT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2399, 22 February 1900, Page 60

V.C.'S AT THE FRONT.

SEEKING FRESH LAURELS AT THE CANNON'S MOUTH. Since the Prince Consori made the happy suggestion of the institution of the Victoria Cross to the Queen, about 430 soldiers, sailors, and civilians have gained this most coveted honour in the world. Although the proportion of the awards of the Cro&s has not been so great ot late years, yet out of such a number it is not surprising that many of the heroes who have thus been honoured at the hands of her Majesty are at the present lime with the troops in South Africa. It is quite possible that many of these gallant men may earn the Cross again, and many people are wondering if it is possible for them to get a second Cross. The rules of the conferment of this honour, however, are very plain on this point, and any former recipient of the decoration whose conduct entitles him to further recognition does not get another Cross, but a bar is added to the one he already possesses. This bar is inscribed with the date and place oi" his new achievement. One 01 two recipients have already 'been honoured in this way, and now possess Crosses with two or three bars. The most noted V.C. at the front is undoubtedly General Sir Redvers Buller, who gained this highest militaiy reward in Zululand. On the day in question he saved three lives — tho,--c of Captain D'Arcy, Lieutenant Everett, find :i trooper — on three difIcrent occasions, so thai no riar_ hzh <z a bef"ti.r right to the medal. General Sir George White obtained his Cross in Afghanistan in quite a different manner. He led the charge at Charasiah with only a few men, and took a most dangerous position at great risk of his life. General Hart, whose name is also veiy prominent just now, found Ins oppoitunity for bravery in the same war, m hile serving with the Royal Engineers at Dakka. He managed to bring in a wounded trooper who

was in danger of being killed b / die enemy. It is intciesiing to nore that General Hart has aloo three other medals for saving life, gamed "in the piping times of peace." Experts on military matters are unanimous in agreeing that tho present Avar i« to be on " engineers' Avar," and already that gallant body o? men have proved the truth of the assertion. They are justly proud of Colonel Leach, avlio, in a former campaign, Avon the Victoria Cress bj- keeping the enemy at bay Avhile covering the retreat of a small party engaged in carrying off a a\ ounded man. Major Aylmer. another Engineer officer. avlio secured the same honour much more recently at Hun-za-ISTagar, in India, is ju<-t as popular Auth the men at the front. Captain Smyth, of the 2.id Dragoon Guards, one of the ikst regiments to go to the Cape, is one of the most recent V.C. officers. He managed to get the Cross by promptly killing an Arab a\lio had run amok amongst the camp folloAvers. Captain EcVward*, of the Highland Light Infantry, earned the Victoria Cross at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir in a somewhat remarkable way. At one point the enemy made a stand, and looked like scoring a success, when the gallant captain rode at the Egyptian leader, slgav him, and then Avith the aid ot his men routed the enemy, thus turning a probable victory at one point' into a crushing defeat. The 2nd Northants were very prominent at the last Boer War. and it was at Laing's Nek that Captain Hill, in the face of terrible firing, brought in thiee Abounded men, and for this conduct receiA'ed the Victoria Cross. As this regiment is Avith Lord Methuen. it is hardly likely that the captain of the Northa.its men Avill be able to make history repeat it<elf, for Laing's Nek, as far as appearances go at present, Avill not be Lord Methuen's road to Pretoria. There are few better known regiments than the Gordon Highlanders, and in the present Avar " the half men, half Avomen," as the Boer» term them, have performed yeoman service. Perhaps the regiment's best known officer Avas Colonel Dick Conyncrham, killed in repulsing the recent attack on Lady.smith, avlio avoii his V.C. at Kabul during one of the charges for Avhich the Gordons are so famous. Almost as Avell known are the Scottish Rifles, who think as highly of Captain Lysons — avlio gained the "For Valour" trophy in Zululand — as the Gordons think of their late colonel Avith the same honour. Captain Marling, of the King's Royal Rifles, is another officer Avho gained the V.C. for saving the life of a wounded trooper. He performed this meritorious task at Tamai, and as the Rifles are Arell to the front Captain Marling may have the opportunity of adding another bar to his Cross. The 19th Hussars, Avho have already seen a good deal of fighting in the present Avar, are represented on the V.C. roll of honour by Captain Marshall, Avho rescued his commanding officer, Colonel BarroAv, from a position of peril at the battle of El Teb, the incident being looked upon in official circles as one of the finest deeds of heroism that have been thus recognised by the Queen. There are few regiments Avhich can surpass the V.C. record of the 16th Lancers, some of whom are in South Africa, Avhile others are still in India, though by this time the whole battalion may have been ordered to take their share in the present conflict. No less than four officers of the battalion gained theii V.C. in the recent Indian campaign — Lieutenant-colonel BelleAvAdams, Lieutenant Viscount Fincastle, Lieutenant Costello, and Lieutenant J. M. Watson. The tAvo former were recommended for their valour at Nawa Hill, Lieutenant Costello was also specially mentioned for saving a Avounded man at the Malakand, Avhile Lieutenant Watson tried to dislodge the enemy at Bilot, and only returned after inflicting great loss and being wounded tAvice. The Lancers have, therefore, good reason to be proud of some of their youngest officers. The South Wales Borderers regiment, which constitutes a part of the Seventh Division of the Army Service Corps iioav on its Avay to South Africa, is unique, inasmuch as it is the only regiment the commandant of Avhich is a V.C. Colonel BroAvne obtained his medal in Zululand for picking up a Avounded trooper, putting him on his horse, and placing him in safety within the lines.