250632 Capt. Thomas Andrew McClintock British Army Army Veterinary Corps from:Letterkenny, Donegal, Eire This text was sent to me by a Canadian relative,
A Hero Of St. Eloi. Captain T. A. Mcclintock's Gallantry.
An Irish newspaper just to hand contains particulars supplied by a gentleman of Derry, of the heroic conduct of Captain T A McClintock a brother of Dr S. A. McClintock (Chief Health Officer of Tasmania) at the battle of St Eloi in France. Before he was unfortunately severely wounded at St Eloi.
McClintock had been previously wounded while serving with the Army
Veterinary Corps attached to the Royal Horse Artillery at Antwerp. He was
sent back to England, but upon his recovery joined the Royal Field Artillery in his capacity of a veterinary surgeon and served with them for a considerable time before the battle of St Eloi.
Captain McClintock after being wouneled in seven places at St Eloi was again sent to England to Lady Mason's Hospital where the story of his exploits was learn from wounded comrades. They described Captain McClintock as an officer who was known throughout the Artillery Brigade to which he was attached as the man who saved the guns at St Eloi and who got his wounds doing a brave act. He had just returned from attending to sick and wounded horses, when he heard that the Germans had rushed the trenches and that the Artillery observation station had been blown up thus cutting off all communication. He saddled his pony and galloped off to get news of the situation, as he was well acquainted with the enemy's position. His horse was killed as he was returning, but he managed to get back in an exhausted condition and streaming with blood to tell his news.
Then the guns thundered again and drove the enemy back. Captain Mc-
Clintock was described as being a great favourite with officers and men to
whom he was known is "No Surrender Mac."
Dr. McClintock has received a letter from his wounded brother, in which the latter describes the incident as only the fulfilment of his duty. He adds that he soon hopes to be off again for the third time, fit and well. He says "No doubt some attacks are pretty stiff, but with the artillery they are always interesting. I am not in any real danger, unless I got a direct hit from a shell, which I always take good care to avoid.
Otherwise the war is good sport, and the best of fun at times."
Belgian Order for Bravery.
A home paper dated May 10th states that Captain T. A. McClintock, brother
of the Chief Health Officer has been given the Belgian order for bravery. He has been at the front almost from the beginning of the war, and in March he was wounded whilst assisting in reconnoitring. It was on this occasion he earned the Order.
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