CROIX DE GUERRE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12244, 16 February 1918, Page 9

CROIX DE GUERRE.

CHBiISTOHURCIH MAN DECORATED

Sergeant John Vincent,\ho Ins been awarded the Croix de Guerre, is well knoAvn in Christchurch. A native ot England, he came to New Zealand seven years ago, and when the wai broke out, being then nineteen years 1 of age, ho joined the forces, signing • on in September, 1914. He lefk with' the- Ma in Body that first landed in ■ Egypt, where ho took part in the deience of the Canal in 1915. ; From Egypt. Iris battalion proceeded to Gallipoli, forming part of the famous An- ’ xac division which took part in the : '

campaign. He was in action at Oapo Holies, Guinn’s Rost and Hill 971, and aller the last named engagement wasmentioned in dispatches. the evacuation in Deeiiuber, R)ls, in which. Ills battalion took .a share, they were sent In France, where he fought at .ormentieres and the Somme. Hero he ; Military Medal, September 25,■ J.'llj. Luring last year be shared in i * uww* t }]\mm ■ s1il! totor PwwJwnd«de. On October IL, at the last named place, r k V\? In .r.' VO V ~ t i rmoniV this time Hu? tf.t \l. Ihe following extract from fho London “ limes” describes the incidents winch won this distinction. The attack was on Bellevue RFBL “ Just afi the. commencement of tll^^tar^fll colour] of the outright by a bursting Vig 1 nailing sergeant tiffin, wffiit forward under heavy shell and machine-gun fire to find a, certain captain, and bring him hack to command' the battalion'.\\hen ho got forward ho found that tins captain had been wohnded. The sergeant then got across the, line, still under fire, to find the next senior officer. V, hen ho reached this officer’s company 1m found that, ho also was wounded. The sergeant then returned' to headquarters to report, only to find that the officers ho had left ‘at headquarters had become casualties.' Thevenpon lie established communication with a division station, a.nd again went for-' ward to find a. lieutenant to Like command of the. battalion. After an hour’s search lie found the lieutenant he was' looking for, and guided him hack to headquarters, whore the sergeant took command of his signallers and remained with ilinn; until relieved/’■■ Mrs Vincent, Sergeant Vincent’s mother? who rondos at Reigate, England, has two other sons serving, .both in the 7 Koval Navy, , ;