Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-19
VICTORIA CROSSES
T0B0MB-THR0WERS
Four Won by Officers for Most
Conspicuous Bravery" in
Daring Exploits.
HIGHEST AWARD FOR VALOR
Heroism of Britishers on CALI
poll Narrated in Official
Report.
HIGHEST AWARD FOR vALOR

LONDON. September 1S.-The award
Of five additional Victoria Crosses ia
announced In the London Gazette.
Four Of them were won by most con-
spicuous bravery" in connection with
constitute such an important feature
of trench warfare. II wcs during
operations southwest of Krithia. an
the Gallipoli Peninsula. that Captain
Gerald Robert 0Suliivan. First Bat
TALON. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
won the highest award for valor This
is what he did, as narrated in the Of
fetal report:
On the night Of the 1st-2nd of July,
1915. when II was essential that a por-
uon OF a trench which had been lost
should be regained. Captain O'Sullivan.
although not belonging TO the troops
at this point. volunteered TO lead a
party OF bomb throwers to effect the
recapture.
"Ho advanced in the open under a
very heavy fire. and. in order to throw
his bombs with greater effect, got up
on the parapet, where he was COM
p'N'S's ttpVSVh W tIt ire Oh the enemy
occupying the trench. He was finally
wounded. but not before his inspiring
example had led on his party to make
further efforts. which resulted In the
recapturc of the trench.
"On the night OF 1sth-1oth of June.
1915, Captain O'Sullivan saved n criti-
cal situation in the same locality by
his great personal gallantry and good
leading"
OSULLIvAN'S NAME
IN CASUALTY LIST
On the day following this announce
ment came another, more sinister, in
the official casualty list. giving Captain
O'sullivan In. the list OF missing"
Sergeant James Sommers. OF the same
battalion. won the Victoria Cross at the
same time. when. owing to hostile
bombing. some OF our troops had re-
tired from a sap" says the report in
the London Gazette, Sergeant Som
mers remained alone on the spot until
party brought up bombs. He then
climbed over into the Turkish trench
and bombed the Turks with good effect.
Later on he advanced into the open
under very heavy fire. and hold back
the enemy by throwing bombs into
their flank until barricade had been
established. During this period he fire.
quently ran to and from our trenches
TO obtain fresh supplies OF bombs"
What Second Lieutenant Herbert
James Of the Worcestershire Regiment.
did to win the cross in the Gallipoli
operations is thus described: "On the
18th OF June, 1915. when a portion OF a
regiment had been checked, owing to
all tho hat
Second Lieutenant james, who be-
longed TO neighboring unit, entirely
on his own initiative, gathered together
body OF men and led them forward
under heavy she'll and rife Are. He
then returned. organized a second
party and again advanced. His gall
liant example put fresh life into the
attack.
''On the 3rd Of July, in the same
locality. he headed a party OF bomb
throwers up a Turkish communication
trench, and. after nearly all his bomb
throwers had been killed or wounded,
he remained alone at the head of the
trench. and kept back the enemy single
handed till n barrier had been built
behind him and the trench secured.
He was throughout exposed to a MUIR
derous fire"
SPLENDID COURAGE
SAVES LIVES OF MANY
1t was between Cambrin and LIE
Bassse. in France. on August OF this
year. that Second Lieutenant George
a. B. Rochefort. Of the Scots Guards.
displayed most conspicuous gallantry''
and won the " c.
AT 2 A. NJ. German trench mortar
bomb landed on the side of the parapet
OF the communicating trench in which
he stood close to small working
party Of his battalion. He might
easily have stepped back n few yards
round the border into perfect safety
but. shouting TO his men 10 look out. he
rushed at the bomb, seized it, and
hurled it over the parapet, where it
at once exploded"
There is no doubt" adds the official
report. that this splendid combination
of presence of mind and courage saved
the lives of many OF the working
party"
The wish is expressed in the London
papers that some enterprising Aim
producer turn out n series of moving
pictures depicting various exploits by
which the V. c. has been won.