THE HEROISM OF THE HUMBLE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14590, 27 April 1918, Page 10

THE HEROISM OF THE HUMBLE

. , Some of these days a master of song will, write a poem as splendid as dawn and as gallant as England. It will be culled "The Ballad of Splendid Service." In great ringing > stanzas it will render praise *to our fighting men living and dead, to our heroes of earth and air and fica and the under-seas, who have already constituted, ' like the gods of old, a mythology of bravery. But this "Ballad of Splendid Service" will chant not "only the bravery of battle, but the glory of obscure non-combatants. The Supplement to the London Gazette, tells m curt, official terms of the cases of scores of obscure non-combatants, men and women alike, who have faced death at the posts of peace with a quiet courage which has been rewarded by the King with the Medal of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire — a moat kingly and excellent honor. Here are a few cases at random: "Adair, Robert. •—'For continuing to, work his engine while molten metal was falling round him." "Gilchrist, William.— For BeMsecriflce and high example m persisting m work which is often dangerous, though suffering from incurable disease and often suffering great pain." "Davis, Violet Annie.— For courage m remaining at her post at the telephone during a severe explosion. Ace fifteen.*' Such little-great ■ deeds as these keep warm the heart of humanity. For th'e hope of the world may be m the heroism of the humble.— 'Daily Express.