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Iø.-  i "Il r V a c e for r1 Ttfln. p11ltitD 0 II \) æ 1. A 4 li A \.J \J Al A Ú   S I      ergt..vor Rees wins the covetec: ulstmdwD.  A Fins Story of Heroism. Sergeant Ivor Rees, V.C. I a SPLENDID HEROISM. The official reoord reads as follows:— I No. 20002 Sergeant I var Rees, South Wales Borderers. I A hostile machine-gun opened fire at clo-o range, inflicting many casualties. I Leading his platoon forward by short rushes, Sergt. Rees gradually worked his way round the right flank to the rear of the gun position. When he was about-, twenty yards from the machine-gun he rushed forward towards the tej.sn, s:\ot one, and bayanetted another. He then bombed the large concrete emplacement, killing five and captured thirty prisoners, cf whom two were officers, in addition to I an undamaged machine-gun. It is with feelings of the deepest grati- fication that we announce that the Victoria Cross—the "red ribbon" of Army decorations, has been won by a Llanelly soldier. The striking intimation came through on Thursday, but it was not until this morning that the news- papers were free to make it public, that Sergt. Ivor Rees, only son of Mr. and Mrs. David Rees, Stradey Hill, Pwll, had been awarded the proudest distinction of the imperial forces. As may be imagined the good news spread through the tov. n and district like wildfire, and on all hands, delight and pride were expressed that the valour of one of the local boys had been thus rewarded. Sergt. Ivor Rees is only 23 years of age, and the last three years of his life have been spent on the blood-stained battlefields of France. Prior to the war he was employed as a eraneman at the I South Wales Steel Works, and in October 1914, he "heard his country's call" and enlisted in the South Wales Borderers-a, regiment already famous for its record of Victoria Crosses. He went with the Borderers to France a few months later, and soon came into the thick of the fight- ing. for, as was said by a well-known General the other day, "if there is any fighting on, the Borderers are sure to be in it." Our gallant young townsman underwent many hardships and ex- perienced more than one narrow escape, but he escaped unhurt from shot and shell, but later on fell a victim to trench fever for which he was treated at Cardiff Hospital, where he remained seven weeks. By this time he had received his Cor- poral's stripe, and on returning to France he came in for further promotion, being made sergeant. His good fortune con- tinued to follow him, and only a few weeks ago he wrote to his parents ex- pressing his thankfulness at having I 1 ,n 1" come through so many "big pushes" un- scathed. "FOR VALOUR." The Victoria Cross is the most highly prized decoration of the British military and naval services. It was instituted hy royal warrant dated January 29th, IS06, and promulgated in the official "Gazette" on February 5th. ft is a Maltese cross in shape, and is made from cannons cap- tured in the ( rhnean war, principally at Sebastnpool, the design on the obverse side consisting of the royal cvest, a crowned lion, beneath which is the in- i) Oil Valour." Non-com- missioned officers and men and such com- missioned officers as may have risen from the ranks, who have been -Yarded the Victoria Ci oss. receive an annuity of uo, which under special circumstances I may he increased to £50. The ribbon is hl1;c for the naval service and red for the military. to A FATHER'S PRIDE. 1 When a "Star" representative called at Pwll on Thursday he found a very proud family at Stradey Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Rees, the parents of the winner <?f the Victoria Cross, were receiving the congratulations of their numerous friends tlwre lwing quite a stream of kindly callers. "I of course," said Mr. Rees, very proud of what my son has done, and we are all pleased that it has been recognized in such a prominent way. 1 may say that Ifor was a born soldier. Not that he ever did any soldiering before, but he was al- ways fond of it, and in his letters we could see that he was full of the work, no matter what the hardships were. There was never any grumbling or com- plaint in his letters. He was always bright and cheerful, and full of high spirits." "Did you expect to hear of this great distinction he has won P" "He told us in his last letter that he had been recommended for the V.C., but did not give any particulars as to what he had done to deserve so great an honour. I am quite sure, however, that lie did his part thoroughly whatever it was. He was always a plucky boy, and did not know the meaning of fear." The "Star" man then asked as to the young hero's movements, and when he might be expected at home, because the l town wanted to honour him. I "Oh, as to that," said Mr. Rees smilingly, "I can tell you nothing. We don't know when he will be allowed to come home but he himself expects to get leave. As for the other part, I don't know what to say, because Ivor is not much of a public man. I think killing Germans is more in his line," REJOICINGS AT PWLL. As might have been expected, Pwll went delirious with joy on Thursday. The little village is immensely proud of its hero son, and in the evening there were excited groups of villagers discussing how the great event should he celebrated. In this matter, several members of the Soldiers Comforts Committee expressed the hope that a public reception would be arranged when the new V.C. winner ar- rived heme. At the Council School, where Sergt. Rees received a part of his education, his great achievement was re- ferred to by the teachers during the course of the lessons. Lady Howard, as the patroness of Pwll and chairman of the Comforts Committee, is expected to take the lead in the home-coming celebra- tions. I TERRIBLE BAYONET WORK. I In one of his letters to a relative, Sergt I Rees gave a vivid description cf the terrific fighting in which he had been rc- cently engaged. In more than one Í- stance this took the form of hand-to-hand I combats in which the Huns offered a clcs- (, F Y' It ¡.. ") perate resistance. The bayonet carao into play here with disastrous results for the enemy, intone letter, Sergt. Rees says ¡'1"" 1,, 1, (' 1, 1", .). 1",1, ",1", .¡ c'" I.,L. Llè, 11, O>1C'c r;l'Jù( 11 ill ,1 J.LC ee when, they surprised a number cf Ger- mans, in this emergency, he turned '-is weapon round and used the butt end of it as a club which felled several of the Teutons. Judging from the tone of these letters, the new V.C. appeared to enjoy these close combats, and the marvel is that "he should have escaped unhurt from them all. SERGT. REES AND A DIRTY HUN. A correspondent who is evidently in close touch with the details of Sergt. Rees' career in the Army, sends us the ,1 .11 I following story Y our readers will, I am sure, be interested to read one inci- dent in which Sergt. Rees figured. It is the story of a wounded German who was brought back to our lines as a prisoner by the Pwll hero. With their usual mag- nanimity, our Tommies treated their cap- tive foe with every kindness. Some water was brought up for the little company, and on the principle of "visitors first," the drinking cup was handed to the Ger- man. And how did he show his appre- ciation of the kindly courtesy of the Britishers ? Like the dirty Hun that he was, he took the cup in his hand and actually spat in it. This was too much for Sergt. Rees, and lifting the butt end of his bayonet, he felled him to the ground with a tremendous thwack. "And serve the scoundrel right" will, I am certain, be the comment of every reader. GALLANT WELSH STILL LEAD. I The new distinction makes the nine- distinction ma k es the nine- teenth V.C. awarded to Welshmen during the war, and the twentieth won by the South Wales Borderers during its long history. During the course of the pre- sent war there~*ias been a ding-dong con- test for the first place in the V.C. honours between the South Wales Bor- derers and the King's Royal Rifle Corps. A few weeks ago they were equal with eleven each. Then Sergt. Albert White gave the lead to the Borderers, and in j the present list both the Borderers and I the Rifle Corps figure with one each, so that the gallant Welshmen still maintain the lead.

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