SOLDIERS' FICTITIOUS STORIES - May 25, 1918

The thrilling story in local papers of how another Northamptonshire soldier has been decorated by

the King with V.C. for carrying wounded officers off the field under heavy fire turns out to be

a pure invention on the part of the hero himself.  The imagination of some our soldiers is worthy

of a novelist.  It is only a few days ago that a Northampton soldier advertised the loss of £75

and so much sympathy was worked up for him that Mr. J. W. G. Smith, of Kettering, commenced

collecting sums from sympathisers to make up the lost money.  Before the money was handed over

the Chief Constable was consulted and he started investigations which eventually led the soldier

to own up that he had not lost anything except his reputation for telling the truth.