Ripley County democrat., 1916-05-12
QUICK THINKING
SAVES SOLDIER
British Sergeant Tells Of Daring
Exploit In Letter to
Rector.
HURLs HAND bomb And RUNS
Wins Promotion and the Distinguishes
Conduct Medal for Sensational
Escape From German Patrol
ling squad-saved From
Prison by Bomb.

FV~"N ~ -NF"-TF
London. n.--Captured by o German par
trolling squad, escaping through the
use Of q hand bomb which was over
looked when he was searched and mar
rowly escaping with his life In q rain
Of shell fire are some Of the expert
ences which won promotion for Sergt
Arthur James Brooke and also the dis
tinguished-conduct medal. In . letter
to the rector of the church at his home
In Manchester. which was printed re-
Gently In an English newspaper, Ser
geant Brooke gives the details Of his
daring escape:
Il can hardly tell how thankful I
am In being able to write you this day
after the troubled experiences Of Sun
day night last have had many ex-
citing times previous to this occasion.
but nothing to be compared with this
last one. took out my party Of scouts
at half-past six in the evening and ar
ranged them In various positions
across the marshes. Having done this
] remained with one small party.
Everything seemed all right, 80 of
l went myself to push farther on. But
before doing 90 I intended seeing an
other small party in another position
on my way. l got as far as my men
should be. but could not find them any
where. Something was wrong some
where. l thought. Suddenly l heard
someone coming and. 1t being o very
dark night, could not see who II was.
They passed me toward our position.
] looked around to see II anybody else
was coming and saw another man.
up went my rife at ready and l
said. Who are your
working party was the reply In
good English.
Dropped Patrol With Shot.
Come here. working party said.
He came until ] saw he was a German,
and then he dropped at o shot from
my best friend. my rifle. l then turned
to do thoBe who had passed me some
thing also and did succeed In damag
ing one or two. However, they came
from all directions for me and soon
had me q prisoner. They took away
my best pal, the rife, and my ammuni-
tion. Next went my cap. Following
this the beautiful scarf which you sent
was taken from nae, also my letters.
After they had got enough souve-
Mrs half dozen Of them commenced
to drag me toward their village. While
I was being taken away q terrible
struggle was taking place between one
other scout aud other Germans in q
wood. This half dozen took me about
two hundred yards toward the village
and then left only one tall man, over
ak feet. With me. Now was chance
for me. I thought said short pray.
or asking him to help mo get hack 70
my comrades safely.
Then suddenly thought Of bomb
which I had carried with me- II was
not in a pocket where had put my
other things, but was IN O slit In my
leather Jacket ! suppose that is the
reason they overlooked II, for II was
stiil there I then managed to get II
out, but found could not pull out the
safety pin with only my right arm.
However. | did the trick by hitting
him on his temple with It. dropping
him without Q word. on made as
fast as my legs would carry me, and |
OF once out came another lot to get
me.
"Still the. bomb was LEFT. stopped, |
pulled out the pin and threw the bomb
among them. II put more Of them out
Of the fight, but still they kept after
me. They were only few yards from
retaking me when our machine gun /
opened IRE on them. l was safe from
hem then, but was In danger Of being
shot down BY cur own gun which had
Aalksd them. ! got within . short dis
'ance Of our position when German
gun commenced to shell all around.
I was blown from place to place
md In the early hours Of the morning
found myself In large shell hole
lalf buried with dirt, where must
lave lain . long time. got home again
ater. safe and sound. suffering only
rom Q bad head. My watch was lost,
9 the Germans took that and smashed
before my eyes. Our commanding
hicers were very pleased with me for
citing away and doing what did. At
he same time ! was told I had been
iven the distinguished conduct medal
or my work. ! had . fine reception
rom Our nau and havo ainco haar