BRAVERY IN INDIA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 4, 14 December 1911, Page 3

BRAVERY IN INDIA.

CONSPICUOUS DEED. Major-General O’Callaghan writes to “The Times” describing the conspicuous deed of gallantry at Filmpur, which gained the Albert Medal for Major-General C. A. Anderson, 0.8., Captain Charles Creaghe Donovan, Sub-Conductor Alfred Edwin Purks, Lieut.-Colonel M. S. C. Campbell, 0.1. E., Captain Hugh Clarke, Assistant Commissary F. Handley, Conluctor Henry Pargiter,'Sub-Conductor A. F. Robinson, Sergeant George Smith, Robert Dunn Dow. Briefly the facts are as follow:

In a magazine of five cells or chambers were, stored about 30 tons of lordite, in metal-lined cases, 3i milion rounds of small arm ammunition, and about nine tons of black j’owder in 1001 b barrels, the last-nam-id occupying a position about mid-way in the building between the other two. In another similar building 50fb distant, and therefore only at a disanco of 91ft from the cell containing the black powder, was stored 135 tons of black powder, also in 1001 b larrels. The cordite took fire, and burned with terrific energy, and with occasional heavy explosions, filling the building with fumes, the intensely mated gases travelling through the ventilating system and igniting the •.mall arms ammunition, which then began to explode and discharge its bullets.

It was obviously of paramount imlortance that, if possible, the black oowder should he removed from the nirning magazine, lest its explosion ■.hould lead to the explosion of the 35 tons stored in the immediate vicnity, so, when the cordite was burnt mtj the General, who, it appears, •ad been accidentally misinformed as o the quantity in the cell fit was bought that it only contained about ’00011)), reluctantly gave permission! o the officers and others who voluneered for that duty to take it out if the building, barrel by barrel, and o drown it in the water-tank close

Twice the General ordered officers Mid men away after he had yielded o their entreaties to he allowed to ■ave the black powder, or, rather, to ret it out of the place in which it vas stored, and twice did they go •ack to work, in an atmosphere thick ,-ith acrid, poisonous smoke, at passing powder barrels out, which were ‘hot to handle, but not uncomforthly so.” Eventually it was all got ut and dumped into a tank near the nagazine. >” The cordite and small rms stuff subsequently burnt them■.elves out, and heavy rain, which proidfentially came down,. materially agisted the fire engines in soaking the ■.mouldering debris. There is little louht that had not this black powder

>een removed and destroyed by the treuumls and continuous exertions of h'e-se brave men, the-risk of firing 1-35 ons 'of ' f pt)wdor in 1 the other block ,‘onld have been imminent, and the msequences would have been very gave. _____________