We were in a very hot attack in defending a bridge. The Germans poured
a very destructive fire into us; we were forced to give way, and had to
retire across the bridge. There was practically no shelter, and during
our retirement one of our officers was severely wounded. He would
undoubtedly have fallen into the hands of the enemy but for the extreme
bravery of Sergeant Cropp, who, perceiving the situation, gallantly
ventured on to the bridge and, seizing the wounded lieutenant, placed
him on his back. Instead of risking a journey across the shot-swept
bridge, he decided, encumbered as he was, to swim the canal, which he
did, and swam with the wounded officer out of the line of fire and into
a place of safety: _A Scots Fusilier_.