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Show COUSI of nei IN PROVES TO BE A I'll HERO One of the heroes of the war on the side of Allies is H. A. Eldrldge, a cousin of Edward Rouse, 713 Twenty-sixth Twenty-sixth street, this city, a Southern Pacific Pa-cific engineer. The Weekly News of London gives this description of the presenting of a medal by the French army: French V. C. For Cornlshman. The first British soldier to wJn tho Medaillo Militaire tho Victoria Cross of tho French Army is Drummer H A. Eldridge.son- In-law of ox-Sergt. R. Benny, of Mount Charles, St. Austell The decoration has been awarded for gallantry at Ypres. Drummer Eld-ridge, Eld-ridge, who has served 10 years with the 1st Hants Rogt., was one of 40 selected to hold an advanced trench 30 yards from the Germans. They fought until only five were left. When ordered by the sergeant to retire before be-fore the oncoming Germans, young Eldrigde rushed to the barricade and began throwing bombs. Although wounded in six places by a bomb he continued throwing for an hour and a half, and for half an hour held the trench alone, throwing more than GO bombs. He had only a few left when the Germans gave up the attompt to take the trench. After attending his wounded comrades he dug his way through the shattered communication trench, and reached tho main trench. A volunteer being called for to return and reconnoltro the vacated trench, he went back and reported that no Germans possessed it Whilst he was defending the trench alone a German officer crawled under the parapet, but was Instantly bombed, and when a Gorman soldier jumped into the trench, Eldrldge killed him Instantly and secured his helmet as a souvenir On leaving the hospital he was presented present-ed with the medal by the general officer, offi-cer, whilst the regiment and band were on parade. In pinning the medal on Eldridge's tunic, the general said it was the first of Its kind to be won by a British soldier, and mentioned that the ribbon was of the pattern awarded award-ed French soldiers who accompanied Napoleon to St. Helena. Drummer TOMT-Mrm Vina nlcn hAn rpcnmm Bndpfl for the V. C. As the champion runner run-ner of the army he has 17 gold and silver medals besides cups, and holds the cup for the best man-at-arms in the Hants Regt. Drummer Eldrldge was recently married to a nurse In Bodmin Hospital, a granddaughter of a ifornier Southampton solicitor. |