A BARROW man who was rejected as being too old for British armed forces won what was termed the "Belgian Victoria Cross" for bravery.

It was awarded to Richard Reading, who had served as a corporal in the Belgian Army but was better known as a writer for Manchester's Sporting Chronicle and for the Daily Sketch.

The government newspaper, the London Gazette, on Tuesday, February 20 in 1917, reported that King George V had granted his authority to allow Cpl Reading to wear the Belgian insignia of Chevalier of the Order of Leopold - awarded by the king of the Belgians for valuable services.

The Barrow News of Saturday, February 24, noted: "Chevalier Reading was the editor of the Sporting Chronicle, Manchester, when he enlisted and has been over two yeas in hospital.

"Chevalier Reading is a Barrow man and although his duties as a journalist took him to other towns, he has relatives still here, for Mrs Coffey, wife of Dr Coffey, is a near relative.

"Chevalier Reading's father carried on buisness inBarrow as a butcher for many years, as did his brother, Mr George Reading - and the latter will be remembered as a keen cricketer and playying member of the Barrow 11.

"Chevalier Reading's connection with sport is an extensive one, for he was a speciaist in horse racing, coursing and boxing.

"Barrovians extend their congratulations to the brave chevalier."

At 4am on October 14 in 1914 Cpl Reading had been on duty with the Belgian army in an armoured car at St George, on the banks of the River Yser Canal.

The car was fitted with a quick-firing gun and was stopped on the outskirts of the village while Reading and another soldier went ahead to scout.

The Barrow News noted: "He actually got to a farmhouse where the German officers were assembled.

He gathered a lot of very valuable information and it soon became obvious that the Germans were advancing in force and bullets were flying in all directions.

It noted: "There was no time to be lost, and while his comrade got over the bonnet of the car, Cpl Reading clung on behind.

"Both legs were smashed by rifle fire and in al he received four terrible wounds.

"He hung on, however, and was dragged along the road for half a mile.

"By this time, his legs were badly smashed.

"A halt was called, but they were not yet out of the bullet zone, for in lifting Cpl Reading on to the car, the lieutenant was slo shot through the hand.

"At length they arrived at headquarters, three of them badly wounded, but they were able to give such information that caused the Belgians to bring up their artillery and reinforcements and save the situation."

The paper gave a detailed description of the award.

It noted: "The medal is an exquisite production of the jeweller's art, while a small replica, to be worn on official occasions, is a work of art in itself.

"The medal is the highest honour that can be bestowed and is of equal value to the Victoria Cross of the British Army.

"Naturally Chevalier Reading is proud of the decoration."

At the outbreak of the war in August 1914, he had offered his services to the British Army but was turned down as being too old for military duty - being 38 at the time.

He went to Belgium and enlisted as a private soldier in an armoured car unit, the Corps de Mitrailleuses.

He was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre to add to his Chevalier of the Order of Leopold.

The soldier was born in 1876 and died at the age of 53 on August 16 in 1929 at Melbourne, Australia.

After two years in hospital - and several operations - the Barrow soldier could get around using crutches by early 1917 and his health was said to be progressing.

After his stay in Barrow, he sailed to Australia on the liner Mongolia to visit his brother George.

It struck a German sea mine and sank off the coast of Mumbai, India, with the loss of 23 lives.

He was rescued after a length of time in the water and was carried on a stretcher to the nearest settlement. Another six months in hospitsl was needed.

He recovered enough to work on an oyster farm at Brunkswick Heads, New South Wales.

Later work opportunities saw him move to Melbourne as a sub-editor for the sporting section of The Herald.