A GALLANT OFFICER.

Waikato Times, Volume 102, Issue 17222, 4 October 1927, Page 7

A GALLANT OFFICER.

STORY OF THE HIMALAYAS. EFFORT TO RESCUE COMRADE. ALBERT MEDAL AWARDED. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, October 2. The story of heroism on the part of a Brilish Army officer on the icy slopes of the Himalayas is recounted in an official London Gazette. This announces the award of the Albert Medal to Lieutenant Bain Smith, of the Royal Artillery, “in recognition of his gallant conduct in attempting to save life on Mount Mon, above the Dharmsala cantonment, India, on June 3, 1927.” It is related bow Major Minchinton, with two Gurkha companions, was descending an ice slope on the mountain when, at a height of about 14,000 feet, the members of the party lost their foothold and slid or fell 1000 ft. on to a snow slope below. Major Minchinton and one of lus companions were so badly injured that they could not move, hut the third man managed to make his way to Lakka, about 3000 ft. lower down. There he met Lieutenant Smith and informed him of the accident.

Although Lieutenant Smith had no knowledge or experience of mountaineering he set out to rescue Major Miuchinton. He reached -him after a climb of 3000 ft. Lieulenant Smith had no ice-axe and was Wearing smooth-soled boots and could only proceed across the snow-field by kicking footholds in the hard snow with his stockinged feetOn reaching Major Minchinton Lieutenant Smith made a sledge of his coat and accompanied by the injured Gurkha, who was just able to move, proceeded to lower Major Minchinton over the freezing snow until the descent was checked by the roughness of the snow. After covering Major Minchinton with his coat Lieutenant Smilh descended to a fire he saw burning below the glacier. There he found Mrs Minchinton and a parly of men. The new rescue party set out and when, it reached Major Minchinton, found him on the verge of a collapse with both his feet frost-bitten.