THE COURAGE OF YOUTH.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16500, 30 July 1919, Page 3

THE COURAGE OF YOUTH.

NEW ZEALANDIvirS INSPIRING STORY. A Riccarton lad, who is believed to bo the youngest *>cw Zealand soldier returned from the front about two months ago with three foreign decorations, two Preueh and ono Belgian. Tho striking story of his experiences is told in the GyUeiton Times. .

Trivale W. E. Rennett, the soldier referred to, enlisted on March 25, 1915, at the ago of 15 years and 10 mouths, his .sixteenth birthday falling on May 11, 1015. Ho was passed physically lit immediately and went into camp. Ho sailed with O Company of the. sth Reinforcements, and nrst came under lire at Gallipoli in the Suvia Ray landing of August, 1915. Ho was wounded witn .shrapnel in the leg at Armentiorex in August, 191 C, hut he was soon back again, and went through Passchendale, where he received a bayonet wound in the right thigh. Ho returned to the front after a brief spoil at Cnmbrai on September 27, 1918; a high explosive shell blew away the whole of his bottom jaw and chin, and half of the tongue. Ho was for seven or eight months in hospital in England and Returned to Now Zealand in tho Tainiji on April 50, 1919, in his fifth year of service, but still in his “teens. 1 ' Private Renuett won three decorations between March and September of 1918. Ho won the Belgian Croix tie Guerre in March, near Gouzeaucourt, for gallantry in capturing German ma-chine-guns’under lire. In July, while attached’ to a regiment of French Cuirassiers, as a member of tho Cyclist Corps, ho gave material in capturing a German patrol near Rheims and for his services he was awarded the French Croix do Guerre. Within two mouths, while still attached to the Cuirassiers, Private Renuett saved the life of a wounded French soldier, bringing him in under fire. For this he received tho highest decoration in the gift of tho French Republic, the Medaillo. Militairo of the hirst Class (silver star). Within a couple of weeks he was seriously wounded near the historic ruins of Cambrai. The French orders won by Private Bennett were conferred on him both on the same day at the hands of President Poincare, in the Boulevard do la Concord. Tho Belgian Croix do Guerre was given to him by King Albert while ho was in hospital at Boulogne. . , , ~ Private Bennett is proudest of the little silver Medaille Militairo, inscribed on the reverse “Valour ot 'Discipline. It is the, French equivalent for the V. 0., and no French civilian will pass the wearer without uncovering. Bennett is to report at the Jaw Hospital at Dunedin for treatment.