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The Wellington Regiment (NZEF) 1914 - 1919

Chapter XLVIII

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Chapter XLVIII.

An Attempt to Cross the St. Quentin Canal Fails— A Further Attempt is Successful—Crevecour—2nd Battalion Holds on Tenaciously — Ruahine Company Saves the Day.

On the 29th, the Fourth Army had struck in the south, and had met with remarkable success. The Third Army was to deliver further blows. On the IV. Corps' sector, the Fifth Division was to complete the capture of the Hindenburg line south-east of La Vacquerie. Early in the morning of the 30th September, the New Zealand Division was to secure, if possible, the eastern bank of the canal between Vaucelles and Crevecour and secure the bridge heads.

Shortly before midnight on the 29th, 1st Wellington received orders to attack across the canal to Esnes, early the following morning, in conjunction with 2nd Auckland on the left. The attack was to be made at 5.45 a.m. under a barrage hurriedly arranged for. Second Wellington was not to move until Lesdain and Crevecour had been captured; but was then to follow up and form a protective flank in case the Second Brigade should fail to cross at Vaucelles.

Shortly after midnight, orders were issued verbally to company commanders of the 1st Battalion. It was a horribly wet night, and Battalion Headquarters moved to a forward position at 4 a.m. and the services of a party of Engineers were secured to assist in the repair of the bridges over the canal. Hawkes Bay now pushed forward, the intention being that that company should secure the bridgeheads and Wellington-West Coast on the right and Ruahine page 302Company on the left follow through across the canal. First Wellington, apparently, thought its attack was to be made at 5 a.m. No barrage came down on its front and, as daylight was approaching, Hawkes Bay, believing the operations called off, withdrew from the exposed forward slope. Communication was now established with 2nd Auckland, who had decided to attack without a barrage, and, at 6 a.m., with Ruahine Company leading, followed by Taranaki and Hawkes Bay, the 1st Battalion advanced towards the canal with the Engineer party following up. In the meantime, when the barrage had come down on the right at 5 a.m., A Wellington-West Coast Company had pushed on down to the right and captured a line of trenches, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy and capturing eight prisoners. As we now moved forward, it was found that the Second Brigade was not across on the eastern side of the canal as expected, and we were subjected to fire from both machine-guns and field-guns on the high ground across the canal on the right. We now bore too much to the right and lost touch with 2nd Auckland. The village of Les Rues des Vignes was reached; but the enemy maintained his hold on the bridgeheads by fire from machine-guns. Accordingly, a line was established along the edge of the village and we regained touch with 2nd Auckland. During the hours of darkness, our patrols worked down to the bridgeheads and secured them with posts.

Shortly before midnight on the 30th September, our 2nd Battalion had been relieved by 2nd Canterbury and, during the early hours of the following morning the 1st Battalion was relieved by 2nd Auckland and 2nd Canterbury without casualties, and moved back to the area which had been occupied by 1st Auckland, our 1st Battalion now going into brigade reserve. Two platoons of Ruahine Company (1st Battalion), which were in an exposed position on the banks of the canal, were not then relieved but remained in position until dark, because the relieving battalions were holding in smaller strength than we had held, and also because of the danger of getting out in daylight.

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The importance of at once securing a foothold on the far bank of the canal could not be over-estimated. Accordingly, plans were at once made for a renewal of the attack on the following day (1st October) by 2nd Wellington and 1st Auckland. It was now thought the attack might be delivered with more chance of success from the north rather than by frontal assault, and preparations were made accordingly. The First Brigade would cross under cover of darkness to the north bank on the western roach and assemble there in the VI. Corps' sector to strike south-east-wards at Crevecour. On the left, 1st Auckland would capture the high ground overlooking Crevecour valley from the north and seize the road running north from the Old Mill of Lesdain.

Before midnight, 2nd Wellington and 1st Auckland moved to their assembly positions, crossing by a wooden bridge. A little rain fell but towards morning ceased. The battalions were in position by 5.15 a.m., 2nd Wellington on the right and 1st Auckland on the left. At 6 a.m., our artillery barrage came down, to be answered immediately by the enemy guns shelling the line of the canal. By 8 a.m., 2nd Wellington had taken Crevecour and some 150 prisoners. Just before reaching the final objective, 2nd Lieut. H. Pettit had noticed a party of the enemy moving along a sunken road, and, holding them up at the point of his revolver, albeit an empty one, captured no less than thirty-five Germans. As soon as our men were seen in the village, the enemy, with enfilade machine-gun and shell fire, caused heavy casualties. 1st Auckland had pressed on to their final objectives in the face of stern resistance, and were in touch with 2nd Wellington. 1st Auckland's left, however, was very much exposed, and it was not long before a heavy counter-attack from Seranvillers and the north developed against 1st Auckland and 2nd Wellington's left company (Ruahine). 1st Auckland was forced to give ground; but Ruahine Company held on stubbornly, despite the loss of fifty per cent in casualties. Two platoons of the reserve company (Wellington-West Coast) were sent for-page 304ward to help Ruahine Company. For some time the whole area to a considerable depth was subjected to extremely heavy shell fire and the position was most critical. The splendid stand by Ruahine Company commanded by Temp. Captain W. R. Burge, M.C., there is little doubt, saved the whole First Brigade front that day. Burge himself was severely wounded and greatly shaken by a shell burst close to him; but stuck to his company until the danger was past, and his example was such that Ruahine Company refused to give a yard of ground.

Lieut. W. B. Cooke (who had been awarded the Military Medal and bar with Medical Corps before receiving his commission in the Regiment) showed conspicuous gallantry that day. He hung on with his platoon on a flank in a most exposed position. It was a most critical time; but Cooke, in disregard of his own safety, moved about and encouraged his men to stick it out.

Lieut. G. F. Pott's platoon had maintained its position when isolated by the counter-attack, and, later, when his company commander became a casualty, Pott himself took command of the company and handled it with skill at a critical time.

Corporal S. T. Dibble of the battalion signallers here showed great devotion to duty. On the 29th, one of his party had been killed and Dibble and another wounded; but, nevertheless, Dibble established early communication with the attacking companies. On the 1st October, three more of his section became casualties; but Dibble kept his other men working, and, even after he himself had been wounded a second time, carried on for twenty-four hours.

During the operation, Lieut. A. J. Williams1 was killed and Lieuts. J. E. R. Benton and C. N. Devery, D.C.M., wounded. The day's casualties in the 2nd Battalion were 4 officers and 142 other ranks, while 1st Auckland had suffered even more severely.

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During the morning, our 1st Battalion, in brigade reserve, had sent Wellington-West Coast Company (Captain J. R. Cade) forward to reinforce 1st Auckland. Later, the other three companies were moved forward under brigade orders and held in readiness to move across the canal to reinforce the forward battalions. The other companies, however, were not called upon, but, after dark, Wellington-West Coast Company took over the front line from the remnants of the 1st Auckland Battalion, Capt. J. R. Cade showing untiring energy during these operations, inspiring all by his determination.

Throughout the following day, the whole area occupied by the 2nd Battalion was heavily shelled. Wellington-West Coast Company from reserve now relieved the sadly depleted Ruahine Company in the front line. The same positions were maintained all that day, and the following day. The First Brigade was then to become brigade in reserve and, after dark on the 3rd October, 2nd Wellington was relieved in the front line by the 1st Battalion of the Rifle Brigade. Just before the relief commenced, the enemy heavily bombarded our front lines; but no infantry action followed. Earlier in the evening. 1st Wellington in reserve had been relieved by the 2nd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade, and had moved back to trenches at Welsh Ridge. There was now a general cleaning up, full advantage being taken of the divisional baths at Marcoing.

During the operations near Crevecour, Lieut. G. H. Robinson (Brigade Intelligence Officer) daily went round the front line, visiting all posts and locating enemy points of resistance and otherwise displaying gallantry and skill of a high order.

Both Wellington battalions were to remain in reserve until the 9th October. On the 1st October, the Second Brigade had taken over a new brigade front south of Les Rues des Vignes, but had not succeeded in crossing the canal. It is true that early in the morning of the 4th, a total silence of his guns had indicated a retirement on the part of the enemy; but, on the fog clearing, it almost page 306seemed as if he had, on the contrary, strengthened his defence, and was even contemplating a counter-attack against Crevecour.

Although the Third and Fourth Armies were now at a standstill the Fourth Army had, on the 3rd October, completed its task of breaching the Hindenburg Line opposite its front, and so turned the enemy defences on La Tierriere plateau.

On the morning of the 5th October, there were unmistakable signs of an enemy withdrawal on our front, for was he not now shelling Vaucelles and the eastern bank of the canal? Patrols from the Second Brigade at once pushed across the canal, penetrating a considerable distance without resistance. The Third (Rifle) Brigade co-operating with the Second Brigade, it was not long before substantial progress had been made towards the Beaurevoir-Masnieres line, an advance which greatly facilitated the Engineers' task of bridging the Scheldt Canal and River.

The Battle of Cambrai and Hindenburg Line closed on the 5th October. There was still bitter resistance in the envelopment of Cambrai; but the whole Hindenburg defence system was in the hands of the British. The struggle in entrenched positions was at an end, and the menace to the enemy's railways and lines of communication became immediate. Except for the Beaurevoir-Masuieres line and some other less complete defences, no artificial obstacle barred the way to Maubeuge. In Flanders, Ploegsteert Wood, Messines and Polygon Wood were once more in the hands of the British.

1 Williams as a D.O. with 1st Canterbury had been the first member of the N.Z.E.F. to be wounded in January, 1915, on the Suez Canal.