Here, as I had strange reason for knowing, was no sudden act of sublime valour.

The final achievement was the result of months of heroic, almost suicidal daring.

And it was repayment of a terrible debt, the whole extent of which I knew not, owed by the man to his tormented soul.
I rang up Mrs.Boyce, who replied tremulously to my congratulations.
Would I come over and lunch?
I found a very proud and tearful old lady.

She may not have known the difference between a platoon and a howitzer, and have conceived the woolliest notions of the nature of her son's command, but the Victoria Cross was a matter on which her ideas were both definite and correct.
She had spent the morning at the telephone receiving calls of congratulation.

A great sheaf of telegrams had arrived.