Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-02-06
Recent Examples of Courage and
Self-Sacrifice in British
Records.
GAVE HIS LIFE FOR OTHERS
Second Lieutenant, in Face OF Liquid
Fire Attack, Holds Enemy of un-
til Help comes--Serseant Who
Was Born 10 Command.

London, England.-The London ia
| zette, with official brevity, recently
gave accounts of the heroism and deyo-
ton to duty of nine British soldiers,
| who have been rewarded by the high
est honor the British soldier can win
the Victoria cross. The brief stories
from their very reticence tell all the
more effectively of thrilling bravery
and of the exhibition Of capacity for
leadership on the part of an officer, N.
C. 0.'s and men.
The case of Second Lieut.. III. r. Par
sons, who belonged to the Gloucester
regiment, is one where junior officer
grasped the Importance OF the post he
was holding, and at the cost of his own
life, and despite severe burns from
liquid FIRE. saved the situation on his
part of the line. The bombers holding
the post were forced back, but Lieu
tenant Parsons hung on, bombing the
advancing enemy. and delayed them
long enough to enable a bombing par
ty TO be formed and come into action.
The party succeeded In driving the
enemy out of the line before they
reached any of the British trenches.
How long Lieutenant Parsons held
the position is not stated, but we do
know that he was severely burned be-
fore the situation developed and that
during the time he held the. enemy he
received such severe wounds that he
died from them.
Fought Until Gun Worked.
Another man who displayed the
same grasp of the facts of situation,
and gave his life TO hold an important
post, was q Canadian iHfsntry ser
geant, Frederick Hobson. During a
strong hostile counter-attack, an enc
my shell exploded on a forward post
where there was Lewis gun, and bur-
led the gun, killing all the crew but
one man. Sergeant Hobson climbed
from his trench and ran up to the gun.
He helped to dig II out and got II into
action against the advancing enemy.
The post lay In a communication
trench that led 70 the hostile lines.
and the enemy were coming down the
trench and across the open. No doubt
the burial of the gun had something TO
do with the fact that 1T damned and
stopped firing. There was nothing now
to hold the enemy. Sergeant Hobson
had been wounded, but he told the gun
ner TO correct the stoppage, and rushed
forward. Single handed. ne fought the
enemy with bayonet and dubbed rife
until at lastshe was killed with rifle
shot. ~
But his bravery had saved the situa-
alton. The Lewis gun again came into
action and held the enemy until re-en-
forcements arrived. when the attack
was completely defeated.
1t sometimes occurs in a difficult
situation that one man win stand out
as a born leader. He is the man of the
party who understands the position
and Is quick to seize the most meager
opportunity that presents itself. II is
apparent that Lance Sergt. John Moy-
ney of the Irish guards Is such man.
This Irishman, from Rathdowney, in
Queens county. won the Victoria cross
for most conspicuous bravery and not
little ability as leader.
He was in command Of Is men form
ing two advanced posts. With no wa
ter and little food, he held the posi-
ton for 90 hours. though surrounded
by the enemy. The morning OF the
fifth day. a greatly superior force of
the enemy advanced to dislodge this
party. which was apparently thorn
In their flesh. Sergeant Moyney or
dered his men out of their shellholes,
and taking the initiative. attacked the
, enemy with bombs. He had Lewis
gun with his party and used 1t with
deadly effect from the flank. The enc
my got round him, but by charge he
broke through. himself leading the
rush. Halfway across the path of his
retirement was a stream, and the SER
geant took advantage Of this to cover
the retirement Of his men. He was
helped by Lancashire man. Private
Thomas Woodcock. Between them they
held up the enemy until the whole
party had got across the stream. wher
both retired under shower of bombs
Private Saves Wounded Man.
Private Woodcock helped the ser
geant by using his Lewis gun until th'
very last moment The enemy wer'
almost right up at the post before b
and his N. @. o. cleared out. The enc
my were throwing bombs as quickl
as they could, and the bursts" wer
all around the stream. Private Wood
cock was nearly clear of the strear
when he heard the cries of some ma
left behind. A member OF the part
was calling for help. In spite of th
bombs. Woodcock waded back into tn
stream and picked up the man VIII
was calling for help. He took him OF
4 of the water and carried him. In broa
daylight. right across the open groun
under heavy machine gun fire; so II
entire party got safely away.
u Private Thomas Woodcock Of Wiga
Lancashire. receives the Victoria GRO