Albert Francis Lane MM

Description

Military Medal

'At LE TOUQUET on the night of 8th/9th May, 1917, Private A.F. LANE was one of the bombing squad on the left of "D" Gap. At 1 a.m. an enemy silent raid entered "D" Gap and was moving towards our support line when they were fired on by rifle and a Lewis gun, and commenced to withdraw. As soon as the enemy began to move back, and without waiting for orders from his Officer, Private LANE dashed out of his bombing bay along the Gap in order to cut off the party. He was stopped by the wire in the gap after going about fifteen yards, but proceeded to bomb from there, and had thrown more than a dozen bombs, when joined by the remainder of the squad. There is no doubt that he inflicted casualties on the enemy, and the prisoner taken had his arm shattered by a bomb. He later accompanied his Officer, 2nd Lieutenant McLEAN, on his two patrols into No Man's Land. This patrolling was particularly difficult as the moon was full, and the trenches at this place were hardly 75 yards apart, and was under fire of an enemy machine gun. Private LANE set a splendid example of dash and initiative to his bombing squad and throughout conducted himself in a most courageous manner.'

Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 189

Date: 8 November 1917