The Gazette of January 3rd announces that the Queen has
conferred the Victoria Cross upon Surgeon-Major Lloyd, of the Army Medical Staff, for his gallantry during the opera- tions against the Kachins last year. Daring the attack on the Sima fort by the Kachins on January 6th, 1893, the com- manding officer, Captain Morton, while visiting a picket about eighty yards distant, was wounded. Surgeon-Major Lloyd, accompanied by a native officer, at once ran out to help him under a heavy fire. When, however, the wounded man was reached, it was found necessary to send back for more help, and Surgeon-Major Lloyd had thus to remain with Captain Morton for some minutes. The enemy, who were within ten or fifteen paces, were all the time keeping up a heavy fire, and killed four men,—one of them being a bugler who was helping to carry Captain Morton. The Victoria Cross was probably never earned more gallantly. Surgeon-Major Lloyd would have delighted Frederick the Great as one of the men who show no violent wish to "live for ever." His example is also useful to the soldier in showing that there are practically no war risks through which it is impossible to come out with safety. That is a very important lesson for those who have to fight. Soldiers will run almost any amount of risk, but the certainty of death is apt to appal. It is sad to record that the man, to save whom Surgeon-Major Lloyd risked his life so bravely, died almost directly he was taken into the fort.