A HERO DECORATED.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14142, 19 July 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

A HERO DECORATED.

SERGEANT BARLOW RECEIVES

D.C.M

From "The Colonist," June 28.)

At the Church Steps yesterday i&orn- j ing, on the occasion of the departure of the Nelson quota of the. Eighteenth Reinforcements, opportunity was taken to present Sergeant W. Barlow, who enlisted at Nelson, with the Distinguished Conduct Medal for brave conduct at Galliopli. In making the presentation, the Mayor (Mr. C. J. Harley) said that when war broke out Sergeant Barlow was an ordinary citizen working at Wakamarina, a good fellow, with plenty of friends. He came to Nelson and enlisted, and his conduct at Gallipoli had shown that he was among the bravest of the brave. He was for eighteen weeks in the trenches at Gallipoli, and not only on the occasion for which he was to receive the decoration-, but throughout he had behaved with conspicuous gallantry, and was always in the forefront of the fighting. These, medals, one of which Sergeant -Barlow was to receive, were' the prizes eagerly sought by the soldiers, -and were not like iron crosses, * being given .with grudging hand 3 and -then only to those who had done some conspicuous deed of gallantry. Mr. Harley then read the extract frorc' the London "Gazette" which set out' the circumstances attending the award, as follows:—"For great gallantry and ability on the night of the 21st-22nd June, 1915, at ■ Quinn's Post, Dardanelles. On his own initiative he crawled from, the trench to reconnoitre an enemy bomb-proof shelter sonve distance, away. He was - successful in dropping two bombs into it, and returned with two i Turkish .bombs which he found outside. Throughout the operations he has disjtmguished himself as a most courageous and skilful bomb-thrower." Mr. | Harley also mentioned that subsequently, while leading a bomb attack, an enenry bomb exploded .at the feet of Sergeant Barlow, seriously wounding mm. In fact, said the Mayor, he was pitted with splinters from head to feet one penetrating his right eye. the sight of which was lost. toie/ Mayor then pinned the decoration on Sergeant Barlow's breast, the Bana of the 12th* Regiment playing bee the Conquering Hero." Three nnging C heers were given for Sergeant ■Harrow, .And-. the pleasing ceremony ended. >~■■.- \

_ The decoration is in silver, on the. tront being the words, V— King of "Britain and Emperor of India " 2,™ the reverse side, "For distinguished conduct in the field" r^^A th, ect romony Sergeant Barlow received hearty congratulations from those in the vicinity. including hi^ comrades in Gallipoli, a numbfr of whom were present.