"JARVIS, THE V.C. MAN."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11282, 9 January 1915, Page 11

"JARVIS, THE V.C. MAN."

+ NEWS OF HOXO-UK READ IN HOSPITAL. ' -V: Lanec-Corporal Uharies Alfred .Jar- A: vis,, of tlie o7tli Field Company. Royal . 0 Engineers, whose name was in the list ", *•; of nine Victoria, Gross heroes published; :■ recently, lies in the Cambridge Ward at London Hospital, making a good recovery from an operation. The f&ct" that a V.C. .hero was some-;' where in that great blpck of buildings " drew, a .crowd to the entrance at 'the visiting" hour, including a lHiinber of small boys, airanxious to get a'glimpse '> of "Jarvis, the V.C. man." A representative 'of thv- "Daily; Mail" found him' sitting up in . bed .•.' smoking a cigarette,- looking very* wli■'.) and enjoying a chat with a few.of' Ms' ■ relativesHo knew nothing about the honour until lie read his name in the moi\!ijiig., ,< paper. '• It was one. of the greatest®,; surprises I've ev«»r.h,ad," lie said. "1 .. had never at any time expected it. So ' many great things had happened irith our men tliat the affair under the canal v. bridge at Jenappes seemed quito.'.'.'"J smiiH." _ ;;, _ . ~ ; The official description of that' " affair" stated that Ja. it is. whp. is..& . Scot, worked " for one and a half hoij' - s under heavy fire. in J ul] view of tin* enemy," and successfully .fired charges' for the demolition oi' a bridge,. It was impossible to get a word of amplification from linn. His relatives, . however, say tha-t he was in ss greit; ' danger from British 'as from" German '' fire during the whole time. His 1 sister, bookkeeper at "a West End ves-. ; : taurant, said:- "His conduct' was no ■ more than we expected. He was always- ; very daring. He had been mentioned twice in despatches, and T think I'expected he would get the Victoria Crosi! some day. Wc are all .very' proud 'oi-' \y him."