"MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11215, 22 October 1914, Page 1

"MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES."

GALLANT DEEDS OF OFFICERS AND MEN. (K.V H- HAMILTON FYFE. in the "Daily Mail.") BORDEAUX, September 14. | On. the platform of the railway station at Limoizcs a. few davs ago a crowd gnthend round :t, young man'of twenty-two. who wore on- his brenal the Cross of the Legion of Honour, tho j higher reward for valour which ;i j French solrlior can receive. ' I He was travel 1 jug in a train full of j wounded, and- his arm was in ji sling. Uric of Jus fellow-passengers, a «iin- i nor, Phot in the leg, told us his story. ■n i ! tt dragoon. Name/ Albert Falophy. lliglit fit tho beginning he was in a stiff fight. In the middle of it bis colonel pot into - difficulties. Falophy went t<r help him, picked him up, earned-him' oil" on bis back under ft. regular hail of bullets. They made him a sergeant- for that. t '' The next fight lie was fai he led liis squadron m a. charge against, the Bavarian Guards. He" made straight ior the standard-bearer, cut him down, took the Hag. After that ho was badly wounded, though* Ball in the •stomach, several lance-thrusts. But before they sent him to hospital be was given his commission as lieutenant and the Legion of Honour. Ho dc-, served them, too.' 5 How the crowd cheered! i * « . # * * • .:

In a private house which has been | turned into a mPitary hospital hero in Bordeaux the same, decoration has I just been pinned on the breast of a ' patient lying thero very badly! wounded.

In the early days of the retreat before the German "tidal wave," Crpv'"i. G ° d l"' of tho 147 th Kejrfnient of root, distinguished himself conspicuously under fire. Again and again.he rallied his company and harassed tho invaders. Time after time their Maxims forced the French trocras to retire, but Captain Godin kept un all day long the .struggle to hold his ground, taking no notice of tho danger to which, he conthmallv exposed himself.

Both his lieutenants and fiVo eorgeants out of ten wore hit. At last Captain Godin himself foil vitb a bullet in his right shoulder. The men made a litter and carried biro into safety. His colonel at once recommended him for the Cross. Then,' as his wound took a bad turn, it was decided io.present it to him 3,s he lay in bed. The ceremony made him v«rv happy. He had a protest to make, too. " Every man in the bat-atlion ought to havo.it," ho murmured. ; 'Wc%U did our best. 5 ' • * « • *

: .There'.is a poswl official named Ges~ rel, in the north of France, -who is a very proud man to-day. Mp has a son, a-young infantry officer.who has only just left;; the military; Cyr. In'a battle this young man's major was wounded in ' several ; places. The spot where he'lay was swept by Maxim fire. ; - .'there,'were some houses claseby. Into one of these Lieutenant Gesrel ran. He eamo out wheeling a perambulator. The men lying about, taking what ■shelter they could, looked at him in amazement. Ho wheeled it briskly, but without--appearing to hurry out into the bullet-f>wept. open space, until ho' came to;where tho major lay. Tho men could"hear the wounded officer protest. "'Go.away.'' .he,said. • ''Leave, me; I .shall:be all'right. It's madness to expose, yourself lik« that.'' -The boy took,no heed whatever. Ho picked tho major up, put him. in the perambulator (he was fortunately a small man) and started to wheel it back. Ho wheeled it back safely, too, to tha edt;e of a'little wood. And ho pushed it to so that tho wounded man was nnder cover. Then be went and joined his men in the fight again...

At Nms-les-Bains a young soldier with a_ ser'erpd artery, and small hope. of -getting, better, was in delirium. Suddenly he beearno conscious. Ho looked •up- a-t■ tho' doctor with wistful. eyes. "Do you want anything?'* The doctor bent down. '"'Are wo winning doctor? T don't mind the'paro. I don't mind dying, if I've got to, so long as we win."When tho dor-tor told the story there were tears in his eves.

Not to bo afraid of death is fine., bat finer still is the courage of those who fool a shiver when they face danger and -still pre=s on. At Neufchatean. in Belgium, a- Bretou regiment was doiibling thrnueh a,wood. They came to a road which, was swept by'the enemy's fire. There-was-.doubt, there was hesitation, thero was a dead .stop. The major in emnmand did not urge the men on. He d'd not coax them or curs« thorn. He did not give any order at all.

He Just took the arm of one of hfc captains and strolled with hint across die road, chatting as if thev had been faking a.walk in the TWs de Bouloo-ne. Then .be turned and called out: "Now, bovs, are you. coming?'' They went. >■ «• * *■■-»■■

Iu -to-days list of officers and men mentioned .in despatches there is the story of Buglcv Martin,' or the. 14th (French) Hussars. Ho was with a. patrol which ("line into collision with .a squadron of tho enemy's lancers- # Tho French, lieutenant io charge of the patrol was wounded by a. thrust. Martin saw him reel in his saddle, pushed hiy borso »lo73fr.sido, put his arm round hint, and steadied him. Then he guided ' the' officer's horso towards a place of safety. The Gorman leader made for thens. lie fired his revolver. No shot took effect. Ho bore down upon them with his sword raised to -cut them both down. Shielding the lieutenant, with his body, the bugler waited till the Gorman officer was c.lo.ve, thou shot him through tho head. After that he was able to get tho wounded lieutenant away.. Another brave rescue of an officer is eel down to the credit of Trooper Philippe, of the 2nd Chasseurs.. Under heavy Artillery tiro, bullets and shrapnel falling thickly, ho brought his captain in, and then went out eight times more to tak-3 water to tho wounded He t.--ss or great service also iu •helping his major to rally the squadron which had b&ea dispersed b.y a, sudden attack. * * ■* * « I wish I could tell such stariea of our own troops, I Know tiiei« ars marry to be told. Btrt the refusal of the War • o|&ea to ajj<> w coire-spondfents •to be with our force aud the sfcrfcfc orders gjven, alike to men and officers, "not to 'talk," Biake & doubtful whether the nation or future ages will ever know wb.it splendid examples of courage and eoolue.ss aro being given by British soldiers in tins war. Here is ■ one, however, which an inhabitant of Cambrai tells. In a tracers shop.a section of Highlanders had taken up their position. They wore [part-.oil .a force - covering the/ main

body's retreat-. Just as the .German* en. mo iu sighi the sergeant noticed it glass ciisft lull of' chocolate. "N00,.v .ma Vv-eo Diaiiiuffi," hp said, "pick yi'i* .;iDci .shoot straieht. Every' hit ,'wius )i cake of chocolate.'' ?«Xanjvcakes were von, but few, alas.l f>«iU>n. Almost all of those <jhe«rjr Highland'crs fell: