Letter · 8 Aug 1917 · Flanders Fields, Belgium
Transporting the wounded
Citation for Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM): 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in an attack. He led a small party on his own initiative to fill a gap between his company and another unit. He rushed a pill-box which was inflicting casualties on two battalions and captured thirty prisoners and three machine guns. He showed the greatest initiative and courage throughout.' (London Gazette, 26 November 1917)
Extract from this letter
"The work of the stretcher bearers is terrible & if any deserves medals they do. They cannot dodge shells but must keep steadily on & carrying men in the dark, up to their knees in mud stumbling over broken trench boards & in shell holes is awful work. Their danger is greater than ours by far."
