Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
‘Astonishing’ heroism of WW1 tank VC
THE incredible heroism of a wounded First World War soldier who captured three machine gun nests has emerged after his Victoria Cross was found.
Capt Richard Wain, 20, refused help after his tank was shelled. He instead took a machine gun and attacked German lines.
The officer, of Penarth, South Wales, was fatally shot but his valour helped infantry break through in the Battle of Cambrai, 100 years ago this week in northern France.
His VC was only one of four awarded to the Tank Corps during the war and was believed lost, until his relatives found it and gave it to the Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset.
Curator David Willey said: “We are privileged indeed. Capt Wain’s heroism was astonishing.”