Newport daily independent., 1918-03-25
WIN HIGH HONOR
 k BY HEROIC DEEDS
Recent Examples of Courage and ', SeIf-Sacrifice in British ! Records.
GAVE HIS LIFE FOR OTHERS
Second Lieutenant, in Face of Liquid Fire Attack, Holds Enemy Off Un-
 til Help Comes-Sergeant Who Was Born to Command.

Was Born to Command.
 London, England.-The London Ga Eette, with official brevity, recently gave accounts of the heroism and devo- 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. O.'S and men.
 The case of Second Lieut.. Fl. F. 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 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 Canadian infantry ser geant, Frederick Hobsons During a strong hostile counter-attack, an ene- my shell exploded on forward post where there was Lewis gun, and bur fed 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 1t out and got it into action against the advancing enemy The post lay in communication trench that led to 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 it jammed 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. he fought the enemy with bayonet and clubbed rifle until at last he was killed with rife shot.
 But his bravery had saved the sftua- ation. The Lewis gun again came into action and held the enemy until re-en- forcements arrived, when the attack was completely defeated.
 It sometimes occurs in difficult situation that one man will stand out as 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. It is apparent that Lance Sergt. John Moy- pey of the Irish guards is such a man. This Irishman, from Rathdowney, in Queens county, won the Victoria cross for most conspicuous bravery and not 3 little ability as leader.
 He was in command of 15 men form Ing two advanced posts. With no wa ter and little food, he held the posi- lion for 90 hours, though surrounded by the enemy. The morning of the fifth day, 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 it with deadly effect from the flank. The ene- my got round him, but by charge he broke through, himself leading the rush. Halfway across the path of his geant took advantage of this to cover the retirement of his men. He was helped by a Lancashire man, Private Thomas Woodcock. Between them they held up the enemy until the whole party had got across the stream. when both retired under shower of bombs.
 Private Saves Wounded Man.
 Private Woodcock helped the ser- geant by using his Lewis gun until the very last moment The enemy were almost right up at the post before he and his N. 0. o. cleared out The ene- my were throwing bombs as quickly as they could, and the "bursts" were all around the stream. Private Wood cock was nearly clear of the stream when he heard the cries of some man left behind. A member of the party was calling for help. In spite of the bombs, Woodcock waded back into the stream and picked up the man who was calling for help. He took him out of the water and carried him, in broad daylight, right across the open ground under heavy machine gun fire; so the on<fro m rtv pof safely away.