STORIES OF THE VICTORIA CROSS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 173, 14 August 1909, Page 3

STORIES OF THE VICTORIA CROSS.

THE BLIND HERO OF MAGERSFONTEIN. Pathetic indeed was an incident which marked the recent inspection of the Geutlemen-at-Arius by the King (says a Home paper). A tall, well-built, handsome soldier was carefully piloted before His Majesty by a fellow-oilicer. It was Captain E. B. B. Towse, V.C., whose eyes were shattered while leading a brilliant charge against the lioers during the South African War. The s'tory of that charge will long live in the memuries of the Gordon Highlanders, that regiment which has i.o many heroic deeds on its 101 l of honor, and to which Captain Towse belonged. CAPTAIN TOWSK'S BRAVERY. On 30th April, 1900, Captain Towse, with twelve men, took up a position on Mount Tliaba. He was totally unsupported; but it was not thought any of the enemy were near. Suddenly, however, a party of Boers, over a hundred strong, who had also made for the position, appeared a hundred yards olf. Seeing that they outnumbered the Highlanders', tile Boers called upon Captain Towse tu surrender.

His prompt reply was to give a ringing command to his men to fire and then charge, the Boers being now about forty yards distant. The sudden ouidaught of these twelve intrepid Britishers, with their gallant leader, caused (he Boers to waver and fall back; and thus the situation was' saved. But the victory was dearly bought; for the men, to their great grief, saw a bullet shatter the eyes of their captain, who has, consequently, never been able lo look on the Cross of Valor which was dulv awarded him. RESCUING THE COLONEL.

Neither was this the only deed o| gallantry performed by Captain Towse liming Lhe Boer War. Five months previously, on "Black Monday" (l)cccmbet lllh, ISO!)), at Hie disastrous Battle 01 Magersfonteiu, when Lord Methuen fouglit 15.000 Boors with 11,000 men, with terrible loss, Captain Towse earned the title of "The .Hero of Magersfo.ilein." Concealed in their trenches, the lioers could not be driven out, and Lord Methuen was obliged to retire to the Modder River.

A terrible five from rifles and pompoms at clone range struck down one in live of tile Highland Brigade under fiencral Wnuchope, who also fell, riddled with bullets. Colonel CI. T. F. Downman, Captain Towse's' commanding officer, was also struck down. But in spite of the hail of bullets Captain Towse hoisted the Colonel on his back and bore him away. It was a gallant deed, well in keeping with the glorious traditions of the famous Gordons,