The Washington times., 1914-12-13
VICTORIA CROSS MAN
GETS PAINTING HABIT
CoIIapseS When Notice of Brit
aims High Honor Reaches
Him in Hospital.

LONDON, Dec. 1.-CBy mail to New
fork)-Fainting isn't usually failing
of heroes, but Lieut.. J. III. s. DINNER.
of the Second Kings Royal Rife Corps,
owns up to falnting twice in his life.
Tho first time was when he wns hit
In the face by German shrapnel. and
the second whom he read in the news
papers that King George had bestowed
upon him the coveted Victoria Cross
Lieutenant DINNER is now progress
ing favOrably'' at his home In Wimble-
don, his head a mass OF bandages. Not
inclined to be loquacous about his ex-
plot himself. enthusiastic brother Off
GERS filed up the gaps in the story. IL
was TO an attack by the Prussian Guard
corps on the British trenches along the
Franco-Belgian frontier that DINNER
oUed his two fainting fits.
Three Comrades Killed.
The Kings Royal Rifles had orders to
stop the Germans at all costs. and Dim
mer. who was in command OF four
Maxim guns, did his best. The advance
of the Kaiser's guard was covered by
a murderous shell fire and very soon
three of Dinners Msxims were put out
Of action. With three men he was lelI
to work the only remaining gun. anu
061Ore long ne was SlIuSh III eiiS 49, -
living shrapnel bullets.
That nearly. caused his first FAINT, out
one OF his men gave him brandy, anu ne
continued directing the fire OF MS gun
against the rapidly advancing Germans.
Whole ranks were moved down, nut
soon another shell burst over the British
Maxim, killing three privates, and let.v-
ing the wounded officer to work the gun
by himself II
DINNER never faItered. THE X r.
RS must stop the Germans ran
through his head, and although he Could
hardly keep his seat on the Maxim trl-
nod, he CROPPED for tho cartridge belts
automatically and fed the deadly
weapon. A couple of shrapnel bullets
found his shoulder, and nearly brought
him down. but DINNER set his teetn'
and catching sight of the brandy flask
which he had used before, he seized II
and gulped down the remainder OF the
spirits.
Strengthened thereby. he MANAGED to
near by was wiked at by the hospital
ridges each into the advancing foe be-
fore another bullet found its mark. and
DINNER tainted for the first time. He
did not know till afterward that the
Prussian Guard wavered. broke, and
fed before his gun. and II was while In
a hospital in Boulogne that he heard
that he had been awarded the Victoria
Cross. A boy brought IN the English
newspapers. and DINNER, after looking
through one, was seen TO reel IN MS
chair.
Nearly Missed Commission.
.Poor chan: found the name OF
chum in the casualty lists, suppose.
said a sympathetic doctor. but on being
brought to the hero murmured weak
": ITS all right just happened TO
read that I've got the V. c." The dem
onstration that followed from those
nearby was winked at by the hospital
staff
But for the action of a member of
parliament six years ago, DINNER
might never have contracted the faint
ing habit, and the Prussian Guard
might have suffered fewer casualties.
Having served m a militia regiment, he
enlisted IN the Kings Royal Rifles. and
proved himself such an efficient soldier
that he was given his sergeant's stripes
in Just over a year. But try as ne
might, DINNER could not jump the gap
between the non-commlssioned and the
ranks.
Apparently he was too capable. and
his superiors couldn't possibly allow
"demnition rankers" TO outshine aristo-
cratic officers.
A member of parliament. learning OF
the circumstances. promptly went to
ord Haldane. the minister of war, and !
told him that II DINNER wasn't given !
r commission he would raise the whole |
subject of army preference and patron |
age in the house. ad as he was known |
AZ a man who took keen delight In |
starting iust that sort of row, the war 1
minister promised to look into Dinners |
record. The inquiries proving satisfac- |
Tory, DINNER was soon perm tied to /
change his rifle and bayonet for a ,
sword belt, the kindly member of |
parliament supplying the funds for his