BRITISH HEROISM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 16038, 24 January 1918, Page 6

BRITISH HEROISM.

SIR .EVELYN AVOOD’S TRIBUTE. Sir Evelyn AA'ood paid a fine tribute to tile British -soldier, and particu-, larly Lord French, when the veteran ‘ Field-Marshal visited a convalescent home at Harlow to present a medal for bravery to Corporal J. L. Carstairs, R-.F.A. After referring to the way the glorious traditions of the British Army had been maintained on the battlefields of ■ Flanders, Sir Evelyn said he thought that the verdict of history would be that the decision of Sir John French on October 20th, 1914, to leave the troops on a very thinly held 30 mile line to resist the enormous oncoming mass of Germans, and to send Sir Douglas Haig to prolong the lino ten miles further northwards in order to save the Channel ports, was unique. The line was held at the cost of a terrible number ot lives, but the men by dying to hold it justified this most audacious tacticaf decision. Before the war ho was often asked ; AAould our men fight as did their forefathers? Ho always gave the'answer: “A'es, their hearts will be as firm, but their heads bettor filled,” aud these • views, nublished five years ago, had throughout this war proved to be accurate. Ho bad known the British soldier during a long period of service; he had often seen him die to save ai comrade, give his life/ for the honour of his battalion or of his.company. Corporal Ca-rstairs’ act was voluntarv and extraordinarily brave. In June of last year bis battery was in action about two miles north of Y’ftres ■ and being outgunned the 'detachments were ordered to retire.. They subse--quentlv returned in order-to support the infantry, and when again retired by orders, Corporal Carstaifs reported a fire in a gunpit, and with Second-Lieu-tenant Hnlton returned under heavy barrage, extinguished the fire, and removed the ammunition, which he carried to a place of ■ safety. ‘