28 September, 1918. A crossroads in the French village of Marcoing. Private Henry Tandey, of the 5th Duke of Wellington’s Regiment’s 5th Battalion, encounters a wounded, fatigued German soldier. The enemy does not even raise his rifle, although Private Tandey has the man in his sights.
Tandey is no coward. Earlier the same day, he crawled toward a German machine gunner that had pinned his platoon. Taking the gunner out, he then proceeded to repair a damaged bridge while under heavy machine gun fire. Later the same day, when an overwhelming force of Germans surrounded him and eight of his comrades, he lead a bayonet charge that drove thirty-seven of the enemy into the welcoming embrace of the rest of his company.
But it is late in the day. The battle is over and won. What could it hurt to show the slightest bit of human kindness? Tandey holds his fire. The wounded German nods his thanks and continues on.
Thus, did Henry Tandey, Private and future Victoria Cross (VC), Distinguished Conduct metal (DCM), and Military Metal (MM) recipient, allow one corporal Adolf Hitler to live.
Or did he?
Normandy crosses
Another Shoa
rememberance
for Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Kindness (posted by Susan)
Read the story of Private Henry Tandey, V.C., DCM, MM.
Frank J. Tassone 
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