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Chapter XXXV.

On the night of the 1st December, the Rifle Brigade relieved the Fourth Brigade in the line, and 1st Wellington, remaining in the line for the time being, came under the orders of the G.O.C. Rifle Brigade. In preparation for the attack on Polderhoek Chateau hy the Second Brigade, the line of the left front company was thinned out at daylight on the 3rd December, reducing the garrison there by twenty-five per cent. At noon on the 3rd December, the Second Brigade attacked Polderhoek Chateau and grounds, the Lewis guns, machine-guns, and trench mortar batteries attached to the Rifle Brigade (to which 1st Wellington was temporarily attached) co-operating. There being a lack of satisfactory information that night as to the result of the attack, a patrol of three of our men, under Lance-Corporal E. A. Billing, was sent across the Reutelbeek. This patrol reconnoitred the position held by the Second Brigade and returned, reporting that 1st Otago held posts facing the Chateau and forty yards west of it. On the same night, a patrol, under Lance-Corporal H. M. Black, reconnoitred the front near Juniper Cottage, and reported on same for a defensive line. The 4th December, passed quietly and that night, a working party from 1st Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, covered by a party from the same battalion, dug a communication trench from the front line page 236and established a Lewis gun post. Early on the following morning, this post was taken over by Wellington-West Coast Company of 1st Wellington. The 5th was uneventful and, that night, 1st Wellington was relieved by 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade. The relief was completed without casualties by 9 p.m., and companies moved back independently to Birr Cross Roads, where buses were waiting to take the battalion to the II. Anzac Reserve Camp at Hoograaf, where it went into rest.

A day or two later, a party of seventy-five was detached for employment with the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company at La Clytte. A number of the 1st Battalion's Lewis gunners from Ruahine and Hawkes Bay Companies were also detached for anti-aircraft work with the 1st Machine-Gun Company, while a model platoon was now formed for instructional purposes. A few days later, the parties attached to 1st and 3rd Canadian Tunnelling Companies were each made up to a strength of four officers and two hundred other ranks. In addition, thirty men were attached to 1st Auckland, engaged on work at Belgian Chateau. 1st Battalion headquarters and the remnants from companies remained in camp at Hoograaf Cabaret.

During the period from 26th November to the 5th December, the casualties sustained by the 1st Battalion were: Four officers wounded, Lieut. (Temporary Captain) M. S. Galloway, M.C., Lieut. A. R. Blennerhassett, Lieut. A. Smith (shell-shock), Lieut. L. J. Maule (shell-shock), and other ranks, one missing, sixteen killed, fifty-nine wounded.

A few days before Xmas, Lieut-Col. C. F. D. Cook, D.S.O., arrived back from leave and resumed command of the 1st Battalion.

December with our 3rd Battalion passed rather uneventfully. On the 1st December, the 3rd Battalion had been relieved in the support area by 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade, the relief being carried out in daylight with no casualties. The 3rd Battalion then proceeded to Howe Camp hutments, and, after a few days there, moved back to Walker Camp. From there, the usual working parties were sup-page 237plied, mainly employed on salvage work in the Hooge area. It was now that Captain A. S. Muir, who had been adjutant of the battalion, left for Division and 2nd Lieut. E. G. Stewart became acting adjutant. The weather was now very cold and a good deal of snow fell, to be followed by rain. Conditions were rather unpleasant, nor were they improved by the enemy shelling Walker Camp and its vicinity. The 3rd Battalion had received a good many reinforcements, and was not tor long to remain out of the trenches. On the 15th December, it entrained on the light railway at Dickebusch Siding for Hellfire Corner, and from there, proceeded to the line, relieving 2nd Otago and going into the Reutel Sector for the first time, battalion having three casualties during the relief. Owing to the severeness of the weather, the difficulty of the overland routes and the bad state of the sector taken over generally, our men during this period had a trying time. Nor did we eseape casualties for eight were killed, and twenty-five wounded, while sick evacuations were heavy. Luckily, the 3rd Battalion was to remain only a week in the trenches, and, on the 22nd December, it was relieved by 2nd Otago and proceeded to Manawatu Camp, Lieut. E. G. Cousins being slightly wounded on the way out. From Manawatu Camp, for the next few days, we supplied working parties for the reserve line and Hooge area. On Christmas Day, however, we rested. No working parties were required. The weather was miserable with snow and rain. Christmas parcels were distributed and a special Christmas dinner of plum pudding and turkey was provided.

On the 27th, the 3rd Battalion relieved 2nd Otago in the line in the Reutal Sector. The weather was now freezing, but the trenches had been a good deal improved and we were able to make ourselves more comfortable than last time. Shelling by the enemy was but intermittent, and our casualties were not serious, although we had one man killed and eight wounded. Our observation of the enemy was keen, and we obtained good sniping results.

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For the whole of December, the 2nd Battalion's headquarters and school were at Hoograaf, with the majority of the battalion with the working party at Belgian Chateau. Early in the month, the weather was fine and frosty, and everyone began to swing into cable burying with a will. The work was now along the Ypres-Zonnebeke Railway, and near Chateau Wood, and 400 or 500 yards were completed every day. The 2nd Battalion had been singularly free from casualties. The work was being done only a mile or so from the front line, and many shells came over. We had all quite made up our minds that cable burying was a "cushy" job and would "do us for the duration" when we received a severe set back. On the 14th December, the battalion supplied the usual party of four hundred. In the first place, the trains which took us to the work were two hours late in starting. Then at Stirling Castle, the engine of one train was derailed, necessitating a long march to the task. We, therefore, arrived at the work very much later than usual. Two companies including Ruahine, had actually started work while the other two companies were just filing on to their tasks, when the enemy sent over one or two shells. The first fell dangerously close, to be followed immediately by another of heavy calibre which, bursting amongst the men of Ruahine Company, caused no less than thirty-three casualties (ten killed, six missing, and seventeen wounded). It was hard to believe that one chance shell could do such damage. It was a great blow to everyone. We had been so fortunate up till now while on this work, that we had begun to think the work hardly dangerous at all, and yet now, more than ten^* were killed before our very eyes, some of them blown to fragments. However, it was war, and what was one to expect. The work was pushed on with vigour until Christmas Day. Unfortunately, the weather broke and a good deal of snow fell during the afternoon and evening; but Christmas Day was made as pleasant as possible under war conditions. A good Christmas dinner was provided at page 239Belgian Chateau. Arrangements were made for the transport to have dinner in the transport Lines, and those attending the Brigade school to have theirs at Bertheu. Battalion details, including the band, went to Belgian Chateau for the day, returning by lorry to Hoograaf in the evening. Everyone appreciated the festive meal. During the afternoon, the band played a number of selections. In the evening the officers of the 2nd Battalion had a very jolly dinner, and among those present was our old comrade, Major L. H. Jardine, M.C., who had recently arrived back from England to join the Rifle Brigade.

Christmas Day over, work was again the order of the day, and the working party was out bright and early on Boxing Day and for many days to follow. The 2nd Battalion was to remain on cable burying and other incidental work, such as draining and repairing Westhoek road and repairing the road near Hooge Crater, until the middle of January. During December, there had been a good many changes in the officers of the 2nd Battalion. Captain C. A. L. Treadwell, who had been adjutant since May 1916, a long period—and had been mentioned in despatches for distinguished services in the field was given a rest, and was detailed for duty with and left to join the Reserve Battalion at Sling. There he remained only a short time, being placed in charge of a new legal department at headquarters in London. Lieut. A. T. White, M.C., was also detailed for a four months' tour of duty at Sling. Lieutenant W. Pollock, Assistant Adjutant, now went to First Brigade headquarters for instruction in Staff duties. Lieutenant H. Simmonds, M.C., took over duties as acting adjutant, while 2nd/Lieut. C. G. Robinson became Intelligence officer. In the middle of January, Lieut.-Col. W. H. Cunningham, D.S.O., also proceeded to Sling to take command of the Reserve Battalion there, and Major W. H. McLean, M.C., assumed command of the 2nd Battalion temporarily.