Some of the stirring tales of ANZAC heroism the Australian press was telling 100 years ago had a quality of Boy's Own fiction about them. One hundred years ago today Melbourne's Argus stirred its readers with "AUSTRALIANS IN BATTLE. TALES OF HEROISM. Man Fights with Hand Gone."
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"Accounts of the behaviour of wounded men show with what fortitude and determination the Australians and Zealanders are fighting on Turkish soil.
"A stirring tale is told about an Australian lieutenant, named Sutton, who volunteered to go out with a small party to blow up a Turkish trench. Before it was possible to carry out the plan the Turks, by a sudden attack, forced the party to retreat hastily. Lieutenant Sutton took refuge in a Ghurka trench, and amused himself returning Turkish hand-grenades to the Turks' trenches until one exploded and blew off his right hand.
"He received a field-dressing for his wound, and was sitting in the trench nursing the stump of his arm when the Turks made a rush. Sutton suddenly found a huge Turk above him with a bayonet. Quick as thought the young officer snatched a [knife] from the hand of a dead Ghurka and slashed at the Turk's neck. The Turk fell upon him, and Sutton grappled with him with his left arm.
"During the wrestle the Australian embedded his teeth in the Turk's ear and held him for 10 minutes until assistance arrived, when the Turk was found to be dead."
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