The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-03-07
But Lieut.. BadgIey Was
Asleep at Hour of Appoint
ment with the King
WAS DECORATED
AT LATER MEETING
Little Yank" Known as Chap Who
Forgot His Appointment with the
King Kept Telephone Line Open
Under Tremendous Fire.

Under Tremendous Fire
LONDON, March Headed for
Broadway, in an effort to forget some
Of the horrors Of war and TO cure him
self Of "ncrvcs.' is Lieut.. Frank !
Badgley, a Vermont boy. who has Just
had conferred upon him by King George
the military cross for bravery. Al
though most folks on Broadway suffer
from jaded nerves, young Badglcv
hopes that gaiety of the White Way
viii calm the nerves that have become
his heritage after two years Of con
tinual fighting in France
Badgley, who is - years old, comes
from Bccchcr's Falls, Vt. Shortly he
fore the outbreak of the war his par
cnts went to Ottawa and with the
FRS, call for volunteers the Green noun
tain lad justified the blood of his fight
ing forcbcars and enlisted as a Tommy
in the Canadian artillery. Shortly aft.
or reaching the trenches Badglcv found
himself a homhardicr aud one hour aft.
or receiving this promotion and be-
cause Of his bravery under fire in super
wishing the building of sand-hag harri-
cades, he was recommended for com
mission.
Three times the Little Yank, :"
Jas he is known to his fellows, was
wounded, but in each instance his re-
coycry was rapid and he speedily
found his way back TO the battle line
From SubLieutenancy he was made
q First Lieutenant and is now in line
for his Captaincv.
During one Of the big German at
tachs on tho British front last fall
the Little Yanb" justified his claim
for decoration. The terrific artillery
fire had completely put out OF commits
I sion the British telephone lines Of com
munication from the front to the va
rious headquarters. When the Ger
man bombafimcut had ceased Il was
4 found that only one telephone line was
i intact that running from Badglcy S
4 advanced battery TO the artillery head
quarters.
! Badglev quickly saw ii was neces-
/ sary that lis telephone line be kept
! opcn. and despite the awful fire ~
which he and his men were subjected
lby the Germans, hc held the wire
4 Over ii he transmitted the reports Of
4 the advanced infantry commanders
and received orders from the various
headquarters in the rear Three times
/ the telephone line was hit by shells
and three times Radgciy and his art;l
/ lcrymcn went out into the open and
mcnded the broken strands.
Infantry headquarters i'll the rear
/ finding all their reports we've coming
through artillery headquarters, mvesti
gated to find the reason, and SO the
/ galantrv Of the Little Yank' be
came known to the staff and the Lad
was mentioned in dispatches and rec
commended for the military cross
That he might be invested with tn,
decoration. Bad2lev was granted ;
leave Of absence and came to LondoT
FOR the first time since his arrival ii
tthc war zone On the eve of hi
visit To Buckingham Palace severa
american acquaintance gave him ;
dinner. The festivities lasted we'll in
TO the early morning. The following
afternoon, while stroIiiug along tia
Strand, the young artilleryman sudden
~ clapped his hand to his forchea'
and exclaimed:
"Grcat guns! | was to have bee
decorated by the King this mornin
and I u clean forgot all about it. -
The story spread and within a fel
hours Badgley was referred to in a
the hotels where officers congregat
rs "the chap who forgot his appoint
mcnt with the King.
After many agonizing hours Bads
| lev succeeded in making explanation
and was Informed that second roy;
command would lie sent to him. Til
second command 60 attend an invest
! turc at Buckingham Palace W;
couched in decidedly firm words an
| Badglcy was careful not to break
| second appointment: with the ruler
1 Great Britain.
4 TN, morning Of the invcstiturc Bad
II Icy was up carly with polished boo
II aud shining. buttons. Grandiloqucnt
A hl hailed a asSing taNicah and :
II marked curtlv to the chauffeur, ''1
II the pala.c,' The taximan. thinkir
iii ANb NtNH4 OihtFl u S-EutStti ~ 10
II don. forthwith drove the lad to Il
Ii laiacc Theatre. Then BadGlev TO
II Tia maa to take him t. Buckingha
! Palace. The driver ohcyed to the c
: tent of driving him about the pala
and to several monuments and memo
ats ia the vicinity. That taximan sir
Ill5 couldn't get it through his het
that The yuungster wanted to call
tire King.
( Finally Badgcir found himself
ne loor Of the palace and in the pr,
: cucc 1T an aged NAN wearing a
powdered wig. q scarlet coat and V
vetccn brooches. Telling the story a
crWard, Badglcy said he thought {
man at least field marshal, and
had drawn himself UP prepared TO gi
the military salute when the impr
siyc being rendered him check t
1.,lo !.