LIEUTENANT’S BRAVERY

Waikato Times, Volume 129, Issue 21525, 13 September 1941, Page 7

LIEUTENANT’S BRAVERY

REMOVAL OF EXPLOSIVES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Sept. 11 Two letters will lie on the padre’s desk at an anti-aircraft headquarters in the Midlands for the next few days. At the end of this time they will either be returned to the writer, a second-lieutenant in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, or delivered to his mother and his fiancee. The destination of the letters will depend upon the outcome of two dangerous jobs on which the officer will be engaged shortly. Already he has faced sudden death on many occasions during the past few weeks. With a few other members of the corps, he has taken part in removing and destroying more than 40001 b of high explosives, all in a dangerous condition and liable to explode at the slight touch. Now the officer will be faced with two of the most difficult tasks of his army career. With two senior officers and a few specially-appointed helpers, he will first carry 8001 b of gelignite stores in a dump to a truck, in which it will be driven to a selected spot for detonation. Then he will convey 7501 b of gelignite on stretchers from another dump for similar purposes.

It is not possible to explode the gelignite in its present position in either case, as it would endanger personnel and property. During the past few weeks the officer and his helpers have had many experiences. On one occasion, with a staff-sergeant whom he recommended in his report for brave conduct, he entered a deep pit to refuse a quantity of gelignite which had only partially detonated. Although mere finger pressure would set them off, they lifted up the sticks and placed them together in heaps, when the whole lot was successfully •exploded.