The Wellington Regiment (NZEF) 1914 - 1919
Chapter XXIII. — Battle of Messines
Chapter XXIII.
Battle of Messines.
Plans for the Attack—Preparations at De Seule—The March up — Gas — Hanbury Support—The Explosion of the Mines — Roar of the Guns — Blauwen Molen — Fanny's Farm — The 4th Australian Division pass through us — Digging In — Death of Brigadier General Brown—Casualties Holding On — Death of Capt. R. F. C. Scott — Relief by the Australians—Buiford Camp.
Under General Godley's command in H. Anzac Corps at the beginning of June, were the Third and Fourth Australian Divisions, the 25th Division and the New Zealand Divisions. For the capture of the Messines- Wystschaete Ridge, the attack of the H. Anzac Corps was divided into two phases. There was first to be the attack and capture of what was called the black line. This was to be carried out by divisions disposed side by side, The Third Australian Division on the right from St. Yves to the River Douve: in the centre, the New Zealand Division on a front of some 1500 yards from the Douve to just North of the Wulverghem-Messines Road: on the left, the 25th Division on a narrower sector at the Wulverghem-Wytschaete road. For the first phase, the Fourth Australian Division was to be in reserve.
After the black line had been captured, the second phase attack was to be carried out by the Third and Fourth Aus- tralian Divisions, the troops of the latter division passing through the New Zealand and 25th Divisions.
The tasks of the New Zealand Division were to capture the village of Messines, establish itself on the black line, and consolidate that line strongly as a reserve line of occupation and to establish a series of strong posts to serve, primarily, as jumping-off places for the Fourth Australian Division, on that division going Forward to capture the final objective, the Green line and, afterwards, as supporting points to the Fourth Australian Division, when that Division had established itself on the Green line. Tanks were detailed to co-operate; but all plans were based on the assumption that no co-operation from them would be forthcoming.
On the New Zealand Division's front, the attack was to be led by the Rifle Brigade on the right, and the Second Brigade on the left. The task of those brigades was to assault and capture certain defined objectives and to dig in there. They were allotted nearly two hours to do that, and, when they had accomplished it, the First Brigade was to pass through the leading brigades and capture the Black line and establish posts in front of it. The object of this was to hold Messines securely, and allow thf Fourth Australian Division to push through to the final objective. First Auckland was to be on the right of the First Brigade front, and its task included the establishment of one post in front of the Black line. First Wellington was to be on the left with objectives limited to the Black line itself. Two companies of 2nd Auckland were to go through First Wellington and establish four posts in front of the Black line. Second Wellington and the other two companies of 2nd Auckland were to be in brigade reserve.
Until the night of the 6th June, 1st Wellington lay at De Scule. During the afternoon of the 3rd, 2nd Wellington had relieved 2nd Otago at Red Lodge, and passed a very disturbed and uncomfortable night there. The active bombardment of the enemy positions had commenced. And he retaliated with lethal and lachrimatory gas shells, necessitating all in the 2nd Battalion passing part of the night in their respirators.
How hot was the following day when battalion and company commanders reconnoitred the assembly trenches! On the 4th, the enemy shelled the Red Lodge Area, killing two, and wounding four men of the 2nd Battalion.
Early in the morning of the 5th, the 2nd Battalion was relieved by the 3rd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade and marched back to the concentration camp at De Seule. Although the battalion moved in half platoons with 100 yards distance between, it nevertheless, suffered fourteen wounded by shell fire. At De Seule, it was another scorching day. The 6th June was a busy day in the Concentration Camp, at De Seule, fitting out with all things that goes to make up fighting kit. In the evening, Padre Walls had a short open-air service, and, after that all had coffee, cakes and cigarettes at the expense of the Salvation Army, while the officers of the 2nd Battalion met in the largest hut in the camp and toasted the King and the Regiment.
Shortly after 9.30 o'clock on the night of the 6th, the 1st Battalion marched out from De Seule en route to the assembly trenches. The 2nd Battalion followed at 10.30 p.m.
The parade stales were:—
1st Battalion: 22 officers (including Chaplain and R.M.O.) and 795 other ranks.
Headquarters: Lieut. Col. C. F. D. Cook, D.S.O. (in command), (R.M.O.) Capt. Cameron, Lieuts. J. T. Dallinger (Adjutant), D. W. Curham (Lewis Gun Officer) and G. H. Roach (Signalling Officer), and about 35 other ranks.
Wellington-West-Coast: Capt. J. R. Cade, Lieuts. G. H. Davey, A. R. Blennerhassett and H. C. Patchett and about 190 other ranks.
Hawkes Bay Company: Lieut. S. G. Guthrie, M.C., Lieuts. P. S. George, S. King, F. Howard * and about 190 other ranks.
* Killed in action at Messines.
Taranaki Company: Capt. W. F. Narbey, Lieuts. G. H. Fell, * R. Wood, M.M., F. W. Medcalf, and about 190 other ranks.
Ruahine Company: Capt. H. Oram, Lieuts. F. E. Asby, L. M. Dixon, C. W. Jones, and about 190 other ranks.
In addition, one officer (Lieut. A. R. McIsaac) and 21 other ranks acted as a brigade carrying party. At Dump 2nd I.C., Q.M. and Transport Officer.
2nd Battalion: 22 Officers (including Chaplain and R.M.O.) and 726 other ranks.
Headquarters: Major C. H. Weston (in command), Captain H. M. Goldstein (R.M.O.), Lieuts. C. A. L. Treadwell (Adjutant), T. L. R. King (Signalling Officer), J. K. E. Jackson (Intelligence Officer), and 47 other ranks.
Wellington-West-Coast Company: Capt. H. E. McKinnon, Lieuts. A. G. Melles, A. T. Duncan, and G. A. Robbie, and 177 other ranks.
Hawkes Bay Company: Capt. R. F. C. Scott,† Lieuts. G. W. Bollinger, † S. A. Murrell and W. G. Gibbs, and 165 other ranks.
Taranaki Company: Capt. D. S. Columb, Lieuts. A. T. White, N. F. Little and C. Natusch, and 164 other ranks.
Ruahine Company: Capt. M. Urquhart, Lieuts. F. Bolton, H. T. M. Fathers, and Taylor, and 173 other ranks.
In addition, Lieut. W. Pollock and 20 other ranks formed a brigade carring party, and Padre Walls proceeded to Khandahar Advanced Dressing Station for the time being, while his burial party remained at the Q.M. Stores, awaiting an opportunity to go forward.
* Killed in action at Messines.
† Died of wounds received in action at Messines.
The march was a tedious one. The enemy knew from the course of events that our advance would now not be long delayed, and shelled the tracks with gas shells. Fortunately, he employed no mustard gas (we were to have our first experience of mustard gas a few weeks later), and few lachrymatory shells, and we were able to dispense with the eye-pieces of our respiratiors and rely on the mouthpieces alone. The gas shells burst on both sides of our moving columns, and in front and in rear. As gas shells explode with but little force, we were in no great danger of being struck by flying fragments but how we came not to receive direct hits from the gas shells themselves will ever be a matter of wonder.
The 1st Battalion found Hanbury Support no sanctuary, for that sap was shelled with high explosive and gas shells, here mostly lachrymatory, and some casualties were sustained. Both battalions were in position by the time appointed, and some men were able to snatch a few minutes' sleep.
Zero hour was at ten minutes past three in the morning. At that very moment, there was a muffled roar, that seemed to die down and then increase and die down again. Then there was a shake that rocked the very earth. Between the last roar of the mines exploding and the opening of the guns was no perceptible interval. The guns belched forth their concentrated fury. Never had the heavens looked so awe-inspiring as they did that morning.
The honour of capturing Messines itself was given to the New Zealand Division. The attack on the divisional front was led by the Rifle Brigade on the right, and the Second Brigade on the left. In spite of strong opposition, they met with complete success.
Meantime, three-quarters of an hour after Zero, 1st Wellington left, the assembly trenches at Hanbury support, and moved forward in readiness to take part in the assault upon the final objectives of the New Zealand Division. While at Hanbury Support, the 1st Battalion had received a good deal of shelling, and, although our casualties had not been heavy, we had already lost several men and two officers— Lieut. G. H. Fell and 2/Lieut. F. Howard, killed, Companies moved in small columns over the open, and then picked their way up the hill to Messines, skirting the village and not going through it. To ensure being in position before the barrage began to move forward again, we had to keep close upon the heels of the leading brigade and, indeed, in one instance on the left, such was the anxiety not to miss the barrage, that our men arrived at one objective even before the troops detailed to assault it.
At 5.20 a.m., two hours and ten minutes after Zero, the First Brigade under Brigadier-Gen. C. H. J. Brown, D.S.O., had attacked and captured the Black line (the New Zealand Division's final objective) beyond the village of Messines. First Auckland was on the right, and lst Wellington on the left. Ruahine Company (Capt. H. Oram) was on the right of our 1st Battalion's attack, Taranaki Company (Capt. W. F. Narbey) in the centre and Hawkes Bay Company (Lieut. S. G. Guthrie) on the left. Wellington-West Coast Company (Capt. J. R. Cade) had detailed two platoons, under 2/Lieut. A. r. Blennerhasset, to capture Blauwen Molen and the sap leading to it. The remainder of that company was in battalion reserve.
Each platoon in the battalion reached its objective and completed its task, a testimony to the leadership of platoon commanders and to the knowledge of all ranks of their tasks. The men of the Wellington-West Coast Company rushed Blauwen Molen with great determination and captured three machine-guns and twenty-seven prisoners with but very little loss. Here, Corpl. J. Fernandez and his men displayed marked gallantry, and Pte. R. Alexander captured a machine-gun and its entire crew single handed.
Ruahine on the right did not meet with much opposition: but they too captured two machine-guns and twenty-five prisoners. Sergt. Roy Corkill led the platoon on the right of the battalion sector with skill and determination, reorganising and maintaining direction under difficult conditions. Upon leaching its objective, Sergeant Corkill was struck in the eye by a sniper's bullet; but refused to leave his post, until his platoon had made touch with Auckland on the right, and consolidation was well advanced, when he collapsed from pain and exhaustion.
Taranaki, in the centre, had the sharpest fighting, cleaning up what had been an enemy battalion headquarters. The platoon on the left, in particular, met with strong opposition from enemy riflemen in shell holes; but, under Lieut. R. Wood's gallant leadership, they fought with magnificent courage. In a charge led by Wood, in which they captured a machine-gun and twenty prisoners, the platoon sustained heavy losses. Although Wood himself was wounded, he, Sergt. M. Beck and Lance-Corpl. C. W. Hansen, led the survivors— twelve in number—and attacked the enemy with such resolution that they killed over fifty and drove the rest away. For their gallantry on this occasion, Lieut. R. Wood was awarded the Military Cross, and Sergeant Beck, and Lance-Corporal Hansen the Military Medal.
The rest of Taranaki Company had Funny's Farm and Oculist Trench to clear and did so with great dash and determination. Their total prisoners amounted to one hundred and thirty-five, and as our men had an opportunity to use their rifles, they also killed a large number of the enemy.
Hawkes Bay Company on the left, also had opposition, and that company captured two machine-guns and forty prisoners. There were many acts of courage by the men of Hawkey Bay; but one notable feat of fearless gallantry was on the part of Private J. A. Lee. * He tackled, single-handed, a machine-gun near the Wytschaete Road, and captured the four gunners. Later, when Taranaki Company was cheeked by an enemy post, Lee, with two of his comrades, worked round behind the enemy and rushed the post, capturing two machine-guns and forty men, and so enabled our advance to proceed.
The final objective was reached at 5.20 a.m. and all set to work to dig themselves in. The assistance rendered throughout by the Stokes mortars must not be overlooked.
* Now a member of Parliament.
Near the Wytschaete Road, they drove out a machine-gun from a concrete emplacement, while they silenced another for us near Fanny's Farm.
Our 1st Battalion captured in all, seven machine-guns and close on two hundred prisoners, including five officers. The Germans probably showed more stout resistance on 1st Wellington's front than elsewhere, although the enemy's morale generally was high.
The barrage again moved forward, and one platoon from 1st Auckland on the right, and two companies from 2nd Auckland on the left, moved a short distance forward and established five strong points in front of our trench line. These were to be the jumping-off points for the 4th Australian Division later in the day.
What of second Battalion in reserve.? It had emerged from the new subsidiary line fifty-five minutes after zero, when the dawn was still grey, and by companies in single file made for Hanbury Support, but recently vacated by our 1st Battalion. A few seconds wait to make sure every one was there, and then up on to the road along which ran Plum Duff Sap, we turned to the right down the Artillery track by the River Douve, then to the left and across country on the parapets of trenches to our new position. A heavy smoke fog lay a few feet above the ground, and the unmistakeable odour of lethal gas was everywhere. It was no use attempting to shout orders: the roar of artillery and machine-guns overwhelmed all other sounds: one could not even distinguish the explosion of our own shells from the shells of the enemy's barrage now falling close to us.
To the 2nd Battalion moving forward, there was ample evidence that our storming troops, while waiting their turn to advance, had not escaped altogether, for in one trench, lay the bodies of five men killed by a single shell, and close by an abandoned tank. A little further on lay several of our 1st Battalion dead.
The 1st Battalion had lost no time in digging in. There is no greater incentive to digging than hostile machine- guns. The line consolidated was the correct one according to plan, save that, on the right of Taranaki Company, the barrage had halted too soon, and our men had there to dig in a little short of the proper line. On our left, the 25th Division went some three hundred yards beyond us before starting to dig in, resulting in a gap at this point. We were in touch with them though, through two Vickers guns on our immediate left, and we were also in touch with them along October Reserve.
At one o'clock in the afternoon, the 4th Australian Division, leapfrogging the New Zealand Division, continued the advance and captured the Oostaverne Line (the final objective). Along the frontage of three Army Corps the same success was achieved. The whole operation was carried through, as it was planned with the utmost precision, and having regard to the magnitude of the enterprise, the casualties were remarkably few.
As soon as the enemy realised he had lost the ridge, he began to shell the whole area, particularly at about three o'clock in the afternoon when the Australians were to be seen moving up. The result was an ever increasing casualty list. At Messines, the losses were not so great in the course of the advance itself; but iu the holding on, the crouching down in shallow ditches, and submitting hour after hour to the concentrated hate belched forth from the enemy's guns. The nature of the ground prevented us from digging very narrow or deep trenches, for water was soon reached and the sides of the trenches would slip in. Ruahine Company, on the right of the 1st Battalion, particularly were in a very exposed position, and were severely punished by enemy shell-fire.
Shortly after 1.30 o'clock in the afternoon, the enemy made his-first real attempt at a counter attack; but our protective artillery barrage was prompt and effective. At about 8 o'clock in the evening, a report came back to us that the Australians on our right were being pushed out of Green Chain Line. Our barrage clapped down again and the enemy made no progress. Later, when things quietened down, the night was spent in improving and extending our trench line.
Meantime little untoward had happened to the 2nd Battalion in reserve, save that, during the afternoon, Lieut. S. A. Murrell had been wounded while reconnoitring the ground near Messines.
Early on the morning of the 8th June, the posts established in front of our 1st Battalion by 2nd Auckland were reconnoitred by Major C. H. Weston, Capts. R. F. C. Scott, and M. Urquhart of the 2nd Battalion, and later in the day, these posts were relieved by the 2nd Battalion, two posts on the right being taken off by two platoons from Hawkes Bay Company, with a third platoon in support, while two platoon;, from Ruahine Company took over two posts on the left with another platoon in support. Enemy shelling was heavy during the afternoon and, as the positions were fully exposed to view, being on the forward slope of Messines Ridge, the relief was not easy to carry out. Hawkes Bay Company was able to rush forward its Lewis Gun sections by daylight; but, during that operation, Lieut, G. W. Bollinger was severely wounded, and subsequently died. Second Battalion headquarters were established at about 11 a.m. at Blauwen Molen, east of the village. It had been a German Artillery headquarters with an elaborate telephone exchange, and, close by were underground dug-outs absolutely full of dead. (Blauwen Molen had fallen to Wellington West Coast Company of the 1st Battalion early in the day). About 3 o'clock in the afternoon, orders were received for the rest of the 2nd Battalion to relieve the 1st Battalion, and the relief was made during the evening, although not finally completed till midnight. Just before the relief was complete the enemy commenced a heavy bombardment and seemed to be on the point of counter-attacking. All troops stood to, and our artillery clapped down a thunderous barrage. The enemy counter-attack, however, did not pass the Australians in front of us and, luckily, the German barrage succeeded generally in missing our trenches.
Liaison between the Australians in front and ourselves was poor, and, at that time, the situation was obscure, so far as regards the occupation of the Green Line (the Australians' objective), and the intermediate strong points. Accordingly, after the 2nd Battalion had taken over, Lieut. A. G. Melles took charge of two strong reconnoitring patrols and brought back information of the utmost importance regarding the occupation of the ground in front, which completely cleared up the position. Lieut. Melles's task was a difficult one, accentuated, as it was, by intermittent heavy enemy shell-fire; but he displayed cool bravery and fine dash and the success of the enterprise entitled him to the greatest credit. For his conduct that night he shortly afterwards received the Military Cross.
On being relieved by the 2nd Battalion. 1st Wellington moved back some distance and took over from 2nd Canterbury, for the Second and Third Brigades were then being withdrawn.
It was early in the morning of the 8th, that Brigadier General C. H. J. Brown was killed. General Russell had been up to see him at the First Brigade's advanced headquarters at Moulin de 'Hospice, and was on the point of saying good-bye on the road, when shrapnel burst overhead, killing General Brown instantly and wounding General Russell's A.D.C. General Brown's career from August 1914, had been one of unbroken success. He was a most capable leader, of rare tact, and his death was a sad blow to the while Division, but particularly to the First Brigade.
Beautiful Weather continued tile following day, for, it must be remembered, it was midsummer. The 2nd Battalion made itself as comfortable as possible in the newly dug trenches. Padre Walls brought up his burial party, and in spite of the constant shell-fire, carried on during the whole day, few of our dead being left unburied.
During the afternoon of the 9th, the 2nd Battalion lost one of their company commanders in Capt. R. F. C. Scott, commanding Hawkes Bay Company. Thoroughly tired out, he was asleep in the bottom of a trench, and was struck by a piece of shell. He never regained consciousness, and died before he reached the casualty clearing station. He was a gallant leader, and for long afterwards, Hawkes Bay Company, who called him "the Black Prince" and liked and respected him tremendously, were very sad at his death, and at that of dear old Bollinger.
Late that night, both our 1st and 2nd Battalions were relieved by the 14th Battalion, 4th Brigade, 4th Australian Division. From various causes, the relief was very much delayed, and, so far as the 1st Battalion was concerned, was not complete until nearly 4 a.m. Companies then made their way down to Bulford Camp, and both battalions went into reserve there. Shortly after one of the platoons of Ruahine Company (2nd Battalion) started on its way out, a big shell burst in its midst and killed and wounded several. All that could be done was to dress the wounded and lift them to a place of comparative safety, near by, and leave them there. The four company stretcher-bearers who were with company headquarters in front, did not hear of this till they had reached Bulford Camp live miles away; but, without hesitation, they turned back, faced Hades again, and carried the wounded out. The Australians had promised to see that our wounded were looked after, and, no doubt, would have done so; but the Ruahine stretcher-bearers thought it their duty to get their own mates into safety before they themselves rested in Bulford Camp.
Among many acts of marked courage and devotion to duty was a notable one on the part of Lance-Corporal Robert Poots, 2nd Battalion chiropodist. During the day of the 8th June, under particularly heavy shell fire, Poots, by unflagging energy, rendered most valuable assistance to his battalion at the Regimental Aid Post at Boyle's Farm. Again on the night of the 9th June, during the relief, six men were wounded at the cross roads near Blauwen Molen. At this time the enemy was shelling our position heavily with particular attention to the locality where these men lay. In spite of this, and with a complete disregard of his own safety, Corporal Pools went out to dress the wounds of these men. On arriving there he found the fire too intense to attend to them where they lay, so he removed each of these men to a place of safety, and dressed the wounds.
Lieut. A. R. McIssac had worked with untiring energy and determination for three days when in charge of the 1st Battalion's carrying party, whose duly it was to keep that battalion supplied with material from the brigade dump. It was necessary for the party to make each trip under very heavy shell-fire, and it was largely due to Mclssac's fine personal example that the supply was maintained.
Killed | Missing. | Wounded. | |
Officers | 2 | — | 11 |
Other Ranks | 71 | 8 | 326 |
Killed | Missing. | Wounded. | |
Officers | 2 | — | 3 |
Other Ranks | 13 | 7 | 124 |
N.B. This list covers a period of five days only, from the 6th to the 10th June (inclusive).