"FIGHTING MIKE."

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 13747, 9 April 1915, Page 3

"FIGHTING MIKE."

_ :J3 "London Gezt*tto" supplenW.^fc recently contained the bald official record of "many a gallant action and deed of valour done" by our j soldiers at the front; but of all the ten line tales of how eleven soldiers won the Victoria Crocs, the one that will appe-il most to JLe public is undoubtedly that concerning Lance-Corporal Michuel O'Leary ft is perhaps un~ necessary to state that Michael hails from tho green isle of Erin. He belongs to the Ist Battalion of the Irish Guards, and thongli he may not be like Kipling's "Fuzzy Wuzzy." a "pore benighted 'eathen," he is most assuredly woefhy to be ranked with that same "Puzn1" as "a. fnst class iightin' man.' This, in the unemotional official language, is O'Leary's title to the Cross: "No. 3556, Lancp-Corporal Michael O'Loary, Ist Battalion Irish Guards. For conspicuous bravery at Guinchy on the Ist February, 19io. When forming one of the storming party which advanced against the enomys barricades, he rushed to the front and himself killed fire Germans who were holding the first barricade, after which he attacked a second barricad? 3 about 60yds. further on, wln'di he captured, after killing three of the enemy and making prisoners of two more. Lance-Cor-poral O'Leary f.hus practically captured the enemy's position by himself, i i\nd prevented the rest of the attacking party from heing fired upon." Hats off to "Fighting Mike!" Anothr notable award was that of a clasp to Lion f-enant Arthur Martin Leaka. of the Royal Army Medical Corps, who was awarded the Victoria Cross on 13th May, 1902. "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty throughout the campaign, especially during the period 20th October to Bth November, 1914, near Zonneteke, in rescuing, whilst exposed to constant fire, h large number of the wounded who wftre lying close to the enemy's trenchr.s." Thi>, -t has been stated, is tho first V.C.. awarded since the institution of the aw.iixl in 1856.