HERO OF BEAUCOURT.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15135, 1 February 1917, Page 7

HERO OF BEAUCOURT.

COL. FEEYBERG’S LEADERSHIP. i ' AvVARD OF VICTORIA CROSS. OFFICIAL ENTHUSIASM. LONDON, December 13,

An announcement was made a few days ago that the Victoria Cross bad been awarded to the New Zealander, Lieut.-Colonel B. C. Fxeyberg, D.5.0., of the Royal West Surrey Regiment and the Royal Naval Division. The story is now told of the valour and utter contempt of danger displayed recently on the Ancre by Lient.-Col-onel Freyherg, and the details which are given are unusually lengthy for official is how the Gazette deconduct meriting this muchenweted award:— ’’For moat conspicuous bravery and brilliant leading as a battalion commander. By his splendid personal gallantry he tarried the initial attack .-traJght through the enemv’s front -v,tenw of trenches. Owing to mist and heavy fire of alt descriptions, Lieut.-Col-onel Freyberg’s command was much disorganised after the capture of the first objective. He personally rallied and rehis men, including men f#m P Tfjther units who had become intermixed. He inspired all with his own contempt of danger. At the appointed time he led his men to the success:ul assault of the second objective, taking many prisoners. “During this advance he was twice wounded. He again rallied and reformed all who were with him, and although unsupported in a very advanced position, he held his ground for the remainder of the day and throughout the night, under heavy artillery and machine-gun " fire. When reinforced on the following morning he organised the attack on a strongly fortified village, and showed a fine example of daah in personally lead-, ing the assault, capturing the village and 500 prisoners. In this operation he was again wounded. Later in the afternoon he was again wounded severely, bnt refused to leave the line till he had issued final instructions. The personality, valour, and utter contempt of danger on the part of this single officer enabled the lodgment in the most advanced objective of the corps to be permanently held, and on this point * ti’appui the line line was eventually formed.”