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| Lieutenant N. M. S. Irwin Dashing Forward With His Men To Re-Occupy Trenches Evacuated Owing To Poison Gas.
About 3 p.m. on May 2nd 1915, a greenish-yellow cloud, betokening the terrible poison gas, came drifting forward from the German lines northeast of Ypres, and as it reached the British front men were seen to leave the trenches. Lieutenant Irwin and his men occupied a support trench six hundred yards behind the fire trenches, and on realising the danger to the retiring men he sent out a party to cover their retreat. Seeing, however, that the retirement was extending, he recalled them, and dashing in front of the support trench, gave the order to advance. Rushing forward amidst rifle and artillery fire with another officer and about forty N.C.O.s and men, they re-occupied the abandoned trenches. On entering them, about four hundred yards were found unoccupied except by an officer. Captain Pechell, who received the Military Cross, a Sergeant who received the D.C.M., and ten privates. Lieutenant Irwin is only twenty-three years of age, but the skill and determination as a leader of infantry have won for him early promotion and he was rewarded on this occasion with the Military Cross. |