LATE WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12325, 23 May 1918, Page 6

LATE WAR.

TALES OF HEROISM. 'WINNING THE.V.G. Gallantry on the Field, Hand to Hand Fighting. Auatralian and N.Z. Cable Auoeiation. - , (Received-'■ May 23, 1.30 p.tn.) • - LONDON; May 22. Details axe gazetted of eleven brilliant feats for which the "Victoria Cross has been awarded- All are Britishers, and wore mostly, leaders of ioriarn hopes in the Somnto They include the following: . CAPTAIN JAMES FORBES ROBERTSON, who, displayed quick judgment, resource, ,and. untiring energy. He four times'skVed’''the' lino from breaking, ahd "fearlessly exposed himself while the enemy battalion was hold, covering tho retreat of troops on his tonka. LIEUTENANT PRYCE, who comnmtided a party covering the flank of the Grenadier Guards. When his company was reduced to forty he found himself outflanked and his position enfiladed. Ho beat off four attacks. Tho enemy then brought three field-guns within 300 yards of tho trench, and when the German infantry were within sixty yards Pryce led a bayonet charge and drove them back. Finally only seventeen lien remained, and all tho ammunition was'gone. Pryce again fed a bayonet charge, and was last seen in * a hand-to-hand i struggle against overwhelming odds. Pryce’s forty held at least one battalion for several hours, and stopped the advance through tho British lines. LIEUTENANT BUCHAN, who was wounded early;in tho battle, found his platoon surrounded. To the enemy demand for In's.surrender ho replied; “To hell with surrender!” He shot the foremost of the enemy, and fought his way -back to the main body. He continued .his gallant self-sacrifice for ttvo days,, until be was again cut off. It was impossible for headquarters to send orders for his withdrawal, and Buchan was Inst seen holding oat against overwhelming odds. PRIVATE COUNTER, who volunteered to deliver an important message, though he had just seen five runners killed in succession by terrific ma-chine-gun fire. Ho not only delivered the. message in tho face of almost certain deatli, but returned tvith another message, 'enabling- a-counter-attack to be carried out, regaining tho whole position.