DEEDS OF BRAVERY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21574, 9 February 1940, Page 2

DEEDS OF BRAVERY

DECORATIONS FOR SOLDIERS Deeds of heroism by British soldiers during fighting on the North-west Frontier of India this year were revealed by a War Office announcement of awards for gallantry in action.

The awards were:— Military Cross.—Lieutenant F. G. W. Walshe, R.A. Distinguished Conduct Medal.—No. 4857405 L.-Sgt. H. Blake, Ist Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. Military Medal.—No. 4856949 L.-Cpl. L. Rawson, Ist Battalion Leicestershire Regiment. The official announcement states that on August 21 last, in an action against hostile tribesmen, Lieutenant Walshe was employed as forward observing officer. A picket was heavily attacked and suffered seven casualties.

Lieutenant Walshe showed conspicuous gallantry and disregard for his personal safety. In helping a wounded man from his picket position he was himself wounded in the arm. After having the wound dressed, he continued to fire his guns for six and a half hours, although obviously in great pain. During the withdrawal Lieutenant Walshe insisted on remaining with battalion headquarters. Search for Comrades On the same occasion L.-Sgt. Blake earned his decoration. Three men were missing in the thick scrub when the picket withdrew behind the crest of Bodari Sar, where our forward troops were in position. Considerable number of the enemy had crept up in the scrub. They were covered by riflemen posted on a ridge some 300 yards away.

Sgt. Blake volunteered to go forward and search for the missing men. Having brought in a dead soldier and his rifle, he then went out a second time with four men and remained in an exposed position, searching the scrub for the two missing men. He was under fire at close range at the time and there were considerable numbers of the enemy near him in the scrub. He delayed his withdrawal to go forward and bomb a party of the enemy seen below him. During this operation L.-Cpl. Rawson, although wounded, assisted in taking back Private Newton. He turned back in the face of heavy fire to drive off the enemy, who were at close quarters. Picking up a rifle, he fired at point-blank range and killed one man.

He held the tribesmen in check until the rest of his section had got Private Newton away. But for his actiqn in holding the enemy in check, regardless of his own wound or safety, it is doubtful whether the rescue could have been effected, concludes the official statement.