V.C. WHO MADE GOOD.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 16591, 13 November 1919, Page 3

V.C. WHO MADE GOOD.

COMMISSION LOST AND RB-WON. Another soldier who “made good” is Lance-Corporal George Onions, y. 0., of the Ist Devonshire Regiment. ■■ Lance-Corporal Onions,’ who now lives at Monkseaton„ Northumberland, enlisted in the early days of the war and was. soon promoted lieutenant in a ! wellknown regiment. In London one evening he got into ~a disturbance in a j restaurant. Someone from the hack I gave an instruction which he resented j rather forcibly. The new arrival was j an assistant provost-marshal, to whom j when he recognised him Onions offered : an apology. } On inquiry it was found that Onions was spending a week-end in London i without leave. He was ' court-mar-j»tiailed and cashiered. i Determined to make good, Onions at. 1 once volunteered as a'private in the Devonshire Regiment, and on arrival at the Devons’ training depot he asked to bo sent to France immediately. After firing a musketry course, he was given embarkation leave, and on his return pleaded to be allowed to take the place of a man who was going overseas next day. The . adjutant agreed, and on April 17, 1917, he went to the Devons in France. HAUL OF 200 GERMANS, - A month later he found himself in a hospital at home. As soon as he was well again he pleaded to bo sent back to France, and in .March, 1918,; he was again with theTst-Devons. He was promoted lapce-corporal, and on August 23, south of Achiet-10-Petit, his chance came. In company with another man he was sent out to re-establish communication with a battalion on the right. In an old trench he saw a large force of Germans approaching. He placed his comrade on his exposed flank and opened rapid fire. They inflicted heavy losses on the Germans, and some threw up their hands. Corporal Onions called' on them to surrender, and no fewer than 200 Germans gave up, Onions, who was wounded, and his companion marching them back to headquarters. For this he received the Victoria Cross, but regretted that he was not restored to his former rank as officer. When demobilised in _ March last he gave up all hope of reinstatement, but since then his case has been considered by the Army Council', and Corporal Onions now states that he has been notified that he is to be “gazetted” ser cond lieutenant, as an act of grace in recognition of valuable services. Ho will relinquish the temporary commission on the same date, but will be granted permission to wear the uniform« on appropriate military occasions.