Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-10-19
VICTORIA CROSS IS
SERGT.
SIMON D. HAY
WELL KNOWN OTTAWA BOY, A
MEMBER OF THE 108TH ENGl.
NEERS, is DECORATED BY THE
BRITISH GOVERNMENT FOR DIS.
TlNGUISHED SERVICE FIRST
TO WIN BRITISH CROSS IN
THIS SECTION OF STATE.

Simon De lagneau HAY, Wei
known Ottawa boy, has the honor OF
being the first Ottawan and one OF
tho first Illinoisans to be decorated
by The British government for distin'
guished bravery. Sergt. Hay was
awarded the British war medal, the
Victorian Cross, in August tor bravery
and distinguished service in action On
Aug. s, near Cachy.
Sergt. Hay was one of four officers
Of a company of engineers who helped
build a railroad to carry regimen,
OF British cavalry to the British firing
fully hammering, and after complet.
ing the line went with company OF
100 men and held the line until the
British troops arrived,
Sergt Hay and Sergt Michael Ward
OF Oak Glen took charge OF perilous
opening in the woods and kept the
communications open a. that point for
several hours. until re-enforcements
arrived For this work they were
each given the Victorian Cross, ana
Corp. William Blackwell, who as
sisted them, was also given the Brit
ish decoration
The first news Of the honor which
'kad been conferred en- the young OF
tawan was received through the press
reports in the Chicago Daily News OF
recent date, which told OF the gal.
lantry in front page article. Similar
press reports were published in the
Chicago American.
With the re ,icance of true hero,
Sergt. Hay has not mentioned his hay
ing been decorated in his letter,
home, but has briefly told of the time
in which the railroad was built. This
ldilroad. he declared, was built unde.
| the barrage fire of .he enemy, and a
piece of shrapnel which struck him
ON his tin bonnet glanced off ANA
hit his chum, killing him instantly
| He described the way in which the
men under his command fell dead on
all sides OF him, and enGel the letter
by saying, Some of us have beer
mentioned for something, but ! don
know whether anything will come oI
Iit' After that the incident or the
story of the decoration was never
mentioned.
The stcry reported by special cor
respondent of one Of the Chicago pa
pers says the order which went witt
the decoration read, For consricuou
good work and service, and adds
These non-commisioned officer
have set am example Of fearlessnesr
and proved capable Of handling thu
working party under their control
They have materially assisted In tn,
completion of the track in time 70
the British cavalry to pass through.
Sergt. Hay came to Ottawa in 1905
after the death of his parents, MI
and Mrs. Leon Hay of Kankakee, I
make his home with his grandparents
i. the late Mr. ,and Mrs Eloi De Lat
. neau. on the North Bluff He wa
raised here and graduated from tn
l.. Ottawa High School in the class {
: 1913. After attending the universit
4 of Illinois for one year he went ives
!. and entered the Oregon Agriculture
:. School in Oregon, intending to tax
up the profession Of a farmer upo
!. completing his course in that instit
tion. In June, 1917, at the close (
his school year he hurried to Chicag
where he enlisted in the engneerr
corps, becoming member OF u
10Sth Regiment, He was stationed
Texas cantonment during his peri,
: of training and was one of the fir
= American boys to enter active servi
overseas.
10 He Is one of patriotic family,
younger brother. Donald. a student
lt Lewis lnstitute in Chicago enlistil
ie in the marines last summer. and aft
~ being in training six weeks at {