The Captain finally met his death while at such work. The official
record gives only brief details: “Though severely wounded early
in action, while carrying a wounded soldier to the dressing station,
Chavasse refused to leave his post, and for two days he not only
continued to perform his duties but also went out repeatedly under
heavy fire to search for and attend the wounded who were lying out.
During these searches Chavasse was practically without food, he was
worn with fatigue and faint with his wound, yet he helped to carry in
a number of badly wounded men, over heavy and difficult ground. It was
due to his extraordinary energy and inspiring example that many wounded
were rescued who would otherwise undoubtedly have succumbed to the bad
weather conditions.”
“There had been many displays,” adds the London _Times_, “of almost
superhuman courage and endurance in the war, displays which had been
recognized by the bestowal of the greatest of all naval and military
distinctions; but standing out prominently even amongst these proofs of
highest bravery and duty was the heroism of Chavasse.”
It seemed almost as if such action became a tradition with the
profession, for another hero was soon announced—Lieutenant George Allan
Maling. During the heavy fighting near Fauquissart, Maling worked hard
and incessantly under the unceasing shell fire. “He began his task at
6:15 in the morning, collecting and treating more than 300 men in the
open and exposed to merciless fire. Throughout the whole of that day,
during the evening, all through the night, without a break till eight
o’clock next morning—twenty-six unbroken hours—he worked, reckless of
shell and bullet. It seemed impossible that human strength could endure
more. Eleven o’clock came, then a large high explosive shell burst
and did dreadful havoc. It killed several of his patients, it wounded
his only assistant, and it flung Maling down and temporarily stunned
him. Yet no sooner did he regain consciousness than he pulled himself
together and resumed his work. A second shell exploded, covering
both Maling and his instruments with débris; yet even so, he had not
finished—he extricated himself and continued his work single-handed.”