Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Wellington Regiment (NZEF) 1914 - 1919

Chapter XXVIII

page 202

Chapter XXVIII.

3rd Battalion at Pontceau—Pennefather Swims the Lys—2nd Battalion's Transport near Kortepyp Destroyed by Bombs—Inspection of 2nd Battalion by General Godley and General Russell—Boxing Tournament at Nieppe—First Australian Division on the March—St. Yves.

Meantime, how had the 3rd Battalion been faring? On the 29th July, Hawkes Bay and Taranaki Companies of the 3rd Battalion had been heavily shelled in billets, the former at Ooschove Ferine and the latter at Pontceau (doubtless a backwash from La Basse Ville) and had had to move into new billets at Pont de Nieppe. On the 1st August, the 3rd Battalion relieved 3rd Otago in the trenches, and remained in line until the 9th, pushing on with wiring in No-Man's-Land, and between the front and support lines. A fairly quiet time was experienced, although on the 7th and 8th, the enemy put over some gas from which the battalion had several casualties. On the 9th, we were relieved by 3rd Otago, and moved into Pontceau. A few days later, battalion headquarters were shelled, and some anti-aircraft gunners nearby suffered some casualties, our men doing good work in rescuing some of them in their dugout. Here at Pontceau, General Godley inspected the battalion.

The enemy was now making life unpleasant for everyone by his shelling of back areas, with high explosive and gas, and the 3rd Battalion had its full share of the almost nightly gas bombardment, and sustained some casualties. It was now deemed advisable to close the baths at Pont De Nieppe.

page 203

On the 17th August, the 3rd Battalion again relieved 3rd Otago in the La Touquet sector, and on the 19th, Lieutenant Colonel C. H. Weston took over the command of that Battalion. It was from here that the first man from the 3rd Battalion was sent on leave from France.

Here, a very daring piece of work was performed by Sergeant S. S. Pennefather of Hawkes Bay Company. One afternoon, in broad daylight, he swam the river Lys, which divided us from the enemy, and reconnoitred the enemy ground. While there, he discovered a raft on the enemy side of the river, which he secured, and with the aid of some of the enemy's telephone wire, turned it into a ferry. After dark, he ferried three men across with him and attacked an enemy post. A stubborn fight ensued, during which Sergeant Pennefather was shot through the right wrist. The enemy post, however, was captured, and three of the enemy killed, our patrol returning to our own lines. The three who crossed with Sergt. Pennefather were 2/Lieut. K. Strack* (who joined the party at the last minute to be in the adventure unknown to his company-commander), Corpl. Jary and Pte. Brown. For this exploit, congratulations were received a few days later from General Godley. Sergeant Pennefather was recommended for, and shortly afterwards received, the D.C.M. for his gallantry, and richly he deserved it, for his fine leadership on this occasion greatly Inspired all ranks in the 3rd Battalion.

On the 25th August, 3rd Otago relieved the 3rd Battalion, who moved into Pont de Nieppe. All civilians now had been evacuated from Pont de Nieppe and other townships and villages in the vicinity. What a power of shifting these civilians took! How they clung to their homes! The war had been raging at their very doors since 1915. Their fields had been ploughed by German shells, yet it was only now they could be prevailed upon to forsake these battered homes of theirs.

The 3rd Battalion remained at Pont De Neippe until the 31st August, when it was relieved there by the 2nd page 204Battalion, Scottish Rifles, and moved, in the afternoon, to Stuff Camp on the outskirts of Pont de Nieppe.

The 1st Battalion had lain at Nieppe in billets till 17th August, carrying on with training and supplying night working parties.

The 2nd Battalion, after remaining at Kortepyp Camp for a day to rest, had moved back to De Seule, which camp, owing to the wet and boisterous weather, was very dirty and slushy. They were to remain there only a day or so and then moved back to Bulford Camp. When word was received that Major C. H. Weston had been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and to command the 3rd Battalion, to celebrate that event, an impromptu dinner had been held in the headquarters' mess. While at Bulford Camp the Battalion was inspected by Brigadier-General Melvill, D.S.O., who congratulated it on what he described (referring to La Basse Ville), as the most successful minor enterprise the New Zealand Division had ever undertaken. The General also spoke personally to several N.C.O.'s and men who had distinguished themselves. We were to learn with great regret that day, that Brigadier-General, F. E. Johnston C.B., had been shot by a German sniper, while going round the trenches.

While at Bulford Camp too, Captain M. Urquhart and the officers of that company, entertained Ruahine Company at a dinner in the Y.M.C.A. tent.

At about four o'clock one morning, a squadron of enemy aeroplanes passed over the camp and dropped several bombs near it, without doing any damage. Worse was to follow, for a few days later, at about 2 o'clock in the morning, of the 11th August, bombs were dropped on the transport lines of the 2nd Battalion, and First First Machine Gun Company, whose animals were together near Kortepyp. The effect was disastrous. Thirty-three horses and mules of the 2nd Battalion were either killed or had to be shot. Four other animals were wounded, including Colonel Cunning ham's charger which was wounded in the chest. "In addition, the 1st Machine-Gun Company lost over fifty page 205animals. Fortunately, only one of our men was injured, Driver Holms, on piequet duty, being wounded in the back. The spread of the exploding bombs was very low, and the animals that were killed, mostly had their legs cut off. After the noise of the explosion, there was only the long drawn- out groan from the unfortunate animals, and then the rattle of their chains and dull thuds as they fell. Among the horses lost, were the 2nd Battalion's two chestnut draught horses of which it was so justly proud. The scene was a distressing one, and it was some days before the chaos was cleared up.

On the 12th, at Bulford Camp after Church Parade, the 2nd Battalion was inspected by Lieutenant-General Godley, accompanied by Major-General Sir A. H. Russell, and Brigadier-General Melvill, General Godley stopping to say a few words to several men. After the inspection, the battalion formed a hollow square, and General Godley referred in high praise to its work at La Basse Ville and added that we had now won the reputation that there was no better battalion in the British Army in the field. The inspection over, the battalion marched past and, afterwards, General Godley spoke to several officers individually to congratulate them on their own share in the operations.

Training was going on as usual, and digging parties were going up every night to the trenches. Many a narrow escape did these digging parties have from aeroplane bombs, for enemy aircraft were now particularly hostile in this direction.

While at Bulford Camp also, the officers of the 2nd Battalion gave a dinner. Brigadier-General H. E. Hart, Major N. W. B. Thorns and Lieut-Cols. Murray and Hardie Neil were present, as also were Lieut.-Col. C. F. D. Cook (1st Battalion) and Major Short (3rd Battalion). The evening was a pleasant one. Lieut. J. K. E. Jackson made one of his inimitable speeches. While here, too, Brigade boxing competitions were held at Nieppe, and the whole battalion marched down to them. The 2nd Battalion entered in only live classes and succeeded in winning four. Lieut. J. K. E. page 206Jackson had put in a lot of time training our men, and he himself led off by winning the heavy-weight, after first accepting a lot of punishment with his usual nonchalence.

Another event of importance while at Bulford Camp was the marching past our camp, one hot and dusty day, of a great many battalions of the 1st Australian Division, who were staging forward to the Salient preparatory to their attack on and capture of Polygon Wood. They had just come from a period of rest and training. How splendidly fit they looked. But many of them now lie buried in Polygon Wood.

On the 17th August, the 2nd Battalion's spell at Bulford Camp was to come to an end, for on that day. Ruahine, Taranaki, and West Coast Companies marched by platoons to Regins Camp replacing 1st Otago there, while Hawkes Bay Company moved to the Catacombs. The same night, our 1st Battalion relieved 2nd Canterbury in the line with headquarters at St. Yves Post Office, the relief being carried out without incident. First Wellington remained in line until the night of the 21st August. During that time the front line companies improved and added to the wire and traversed and improved the front line posts, and carried out patrolling operations. The support companies employed all available men in carrying trench boards to the posts. Hawkes Bay Company of the 2nd Battalion, living at the Catacombs, provided a carrying party nightly to carry up wiring material and trench boards to the front line posts. On the night of the 21st August, our 1st Battalion was relieved by 1st Auckland. The relief was complete by midnight, and the battalion moved out to Romarin Camp. About 12.20 a.m. the enemy opened a heavy bombardment on the back area with high explosive and gas shells. A favourable wind carried the gas down as far as Romarin Camp. Wellington-West Coast Company had to stay at Prowse Point till the shelling was over, and arrived in camp later on, having had to march most of the way in respirators. Before midnight the same night, 2nd Wellington relieved 2nd Auckland in the front line and posts on the right of La Basse Ville with page 207battalion headquarters at Lewisham Lodge. This sector was comparatively quiet, although we had to ask for artillery retaliation from time to time to check the enemy's penchant for shelling our front line with "pineapples" from Wickardt Farm. The weather was gloriously fine, and a great deal of work was done in improving the front line and communication saps.

* This gallant officer was later killed at Gravenstafel.