The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-12-31
KILLED CREW OF GUN
THAT ANNOYED" HIN
Private George Wilson, High
lander, Risked Court-Martial
But Won a v. C.
BY H. NJ. SARLE.

LONDON, Dec. 9 (by mail to New
York).-Hercs a bit of valuable advice
to the Ksiser's troops and their Aus
TRAN allies. Don't annoy Private
George Wilson, OF the Highland Light
Infantry. The last time they so far
forgot themselves It cost the lives or
seven men and incidentally II enabled
George TO win the Victoria Cross.
1t Is true Wilson's own company COM
mander also annoyed him by refusing
permission for him TO go out and de-
rIonstrate with party of Germans,
who. with q machine gun. were max
ing themselves a fearful nuisance" but
George put all the blame on the original
disturbers of the peace OF Company
Second Light Infantry. He was so an
noyed that he r1slSed a court-martiaI by
disobeying the orders OF his officer.
II was at Vcrneuil. on September H.
that the II. l.. l., who had been in ali
the fighting from Mons onward, found
their trenches being raked by a German
machine gun, cunn!ngSy hidden In a
wood. Neither rifiemen nor artillery
could locate the pest, which was doing
suffering heavily, and Wilson, who.
besides being one of the ornaments of
the company himself. numbered many
friends among the victims. decided that
IT was time to take charge Of matters
personally.
Accordingly he marched over to his
officer and calmly asked permission TO
20 into the wood and put an end 70 the
annoyance
Certainly not" snapped the officer.
We have lost enough men already,
without throwing more lives away
BY no means turned from his pur-
pose, Wilson worked his way along the
trench in the direction of the wood.
ana. encounterfng straggler from the
Kings Royal Rifles. he found a ready
coadjutor. The r.fleman also had a
grievance against the hidden Maxim.
and the two angry men crawled to-
ward the enemy's position.
Halfway there they were discovered.
and the gallant *. r. r, private fell
with a bullet through his brain, but
Wilson kept on his way. Making use
OF every available inch of cover, he
fired as he went. and picked of the six
Germans working on the gun. one by
one Only the officer remained. and
as his magazine was empty Wilson went
in with the bayonet.
The unfortunate officer tried TO run
the daring Scotsman through with his
sword, but was too late. and the ready
hayonet avenged the losses OF p Com
pany. Wilson was at a loss what to
too heavy for him to carry back TO his
own iineE. and its position was now
TOO exposed to be worked against its
former owners. He accordingly de-
cided TO destroy it. and under a heavy
fire he beat the delicate mechanism to
pieces with his rife. butt.
Then picking up the bresch-blocl< he
returned in triumph.
There's the Maxim. SIR" he said.
throwing his prize on the ground, and
salut'nS his astonislled officer.
Where on earth did you get IL?
forbade you to leave the trenches"
Easped the officer.
Of the fatal wood IT saw q favorable
opportunity. and there wasn't time to
come and ask you again. sir"
Another salute, and Private George
wilson retired compiacently. quite I'M
conscious that he had done anything
worthy OF u V. c.