“OUT OF ACTION.”

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 37

“OUT OF ACTION.”

HOW ANTHONY WILDING DIED. (I non Oup. Own Cujluiespomdent.) . LONDON, August 4. The Daily Mail published a lew days ago a fuller and in some respects different account from those hitherto given of the death of Captain Anthony if. Wilding. The New Zealander was a captain in the armoured car section of the Loyal Naval Air (Service, and tiie Daily Mail tells us ; " While the squadron was waiting for transport at Dunkirk Captain Wilding fretted at the delay, ana managed to attach himself to the Indain Corps. Dolor e going lie had a trailer built at Dunkirk to carry a three-pounder gun, and with this he set out for the firing line. Hull of energy and lighting spirit, ho at once learned all ne could of the surrounding country in order to be ready. Then came the action in which he died. The report sent by a brother officer to his commander shows that on Sunday, May 9, their battery was in action near the Estaires-La Dassee road, and that Captain Wilding had his trailer gun in the front-line trench on a specially built platform permitting the gun to swing to right or left over the top of the parapet. This in itself indicates a position of great danger. “The actual spot was a place known as Port Arthur, 2(JO yards due east from the cross-roads and about 300 yards due south of Neuve Chapelle village. Captain Wilding elected to take charge of this trench party, leaving the armoured car on the La Dassee road to a brother officer. His gun crew opened lire at 5.20 a.m., and continued firing, with intervals, until 3.30 p.m.. Captain Wilding observing and directing the fire both from the gun platform and the trench. Ail this trench section was under heavy fire throughout the day, as the attack was being made on the party’s right just across the La Bassee road* After 3.30 p.m., there being rather less fire to hide his gun, firing was discontinued, and after some reconnaissance opposite, Captain Wilding got into a dug-out in the trench, about 30 yards to the right of the gun, as shells were coming over. At 4.30 a big shell dropped on the dug-out roof and killed the officers, who were inside. The official report speaks highly of the great work done by Captain Wilding’s gun. This is how the champion died. That he went into danger knowing that the chances were great against him is shown by a letter written on the very day of his death, probably in the dug-out while the shells were trying to find him. His own words prove that he was ready for death ; “‘My dear , —For really the firsttime in seven and a-half months I have a job on hand which is likely to end in gun, I, and whole outfit being blown to hell. However, it is a sporting chance, and if we succeed we will help our infantry no end. I know the job exactly and the objects in view, from my study of them, which is the only way to play business or war. What I write to you about is this I If my trailer and I get forcibly put out of action I ask you , , . . 3 (Then follows a direction with regard to the disposal of his property after his death.) “ Very soon after he had written thosewords, how few moments after no one knows, he was, just as he called it, ‘ put out of action,’ playing war like a champion. In the moment of his death he reached the summit of a great career. Put out of action though he is, it will be long before he is put out of the public memory,”