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The Wellington Regiment (NZEF) 1914 - 1919

Chapter L

page 316

Chapter L.

Enemy on the Run — Billets in Solesmes—Colonel Cunningham Leaves 2nd Battalion—Preparing for the Capture of Le Quesnoy.

On the 20th October, the Second and Fourth Armies continued the advance. The New Zealand Division was held in reserve and, although all battalions were ordered to be ready to move at two hours' notice, the Division was not called upon. As a result of the operations that day, the line was advanced between 3000 and 4000 yards on the IV. Corps' front; but only after stubborn fighting.

On the 22nd October, 2nd Wellington marched in full marching order in steady rain to Fontaine, where 1st Wellington and the rest of the First Brigade had been for more than a week

On the 23rd, the advance was resumed on a wide front. In the IV. Corps, the 5th and 42nd Divisions were the leading divisions in the morning's advance. Before mid-day, our Second Brigade passed through the 42nd Division, the Rifle Brigade being in divisional support at Solesmes, and the First Brigade in reserve at Fontaine. At the same time, the 37th Division passed through the 5th Division on the right. The enemy was now on the run and all objectives were taken with comparatively few casualties. There was not the stubborn fighting that had marked the action of the 20th, and by nightfall, 1st Canterbury patrols had seized Beaudignies, and, later, that night, pushed up Le Quesnoy Road and established a post five hundred yards beyond Beaudignies. Before midnight, 2nd Otago had occupied fifteen hundred yards of the Salesches-Beaudignies Road, meeting little opposition. Our Second Brigade had advanced altogether four and page 317a half miles, going beyond its objectives and securing the Ecaillon crossings.

Still the enemy was to be given no respite, and the Second Brigade, ordered to continue the advance, had, before dawn on the 24th, reached the sunken road running from Ghissignies past the eastern edge of Beaudignies. For the rest of the day the battalions of the Second Brigade were engaged in exploiting their successes. By nightfall, the Second Brigade line ran from the Ruesnes road on the left, to the north-eastern extremity of the De Beart Wood on Le Quesnoy road and then through the trees, with outposts on the edge of the wood. At certain points the line was not more than one thousand yards from the outer ramparts of Le Quesnoy.

In the evening of the 24th October, the Second Brigade was relieved in line by the Rifle Brigade. In hard fighting during the next few days, the latter brigade substantially improved the position on the divisional front, and established additional posts. Pending the resumption of the advance, the divisional sector was re-organised.

On the morning of the 24th, the First Brigade had marched to Solesmes, 2nd Wellington moving first at 7 a.m The route was through Beauvois, Cambresis, Bevillers, Quievy and Fontaine-au-Tertre—the roads good, and the weather fine. In Solesmes, the billets were in some rather "shell-shocked" houses. However, there was an abundance of straw and other supplies lying about, and by dark everyone was comfortable. Solesmes must have been a fair-sized town, albeit now somewhat battered about. Here about one thousand inhabitants had been left behind by the retreating enemy.

Col. W. H. Cunningham, D.S.O., and Capt. J. T. Dallinger, M.C., were now to leave the Second Battalion, under orders to return to New Zealand on tour of duty. On the march to Solesmes, the battalion marched past the Colonel and so took leave of its tried and trusty commander, who had for long borne the heat and burden of the day. The command of the 2nd Battalion was now assumed by Major H. E. page 318McKinnon, M.C., and Lieut. S. A. Murrell took over from Capt. Dallinger the duties of adjutant.

Although daily expecting orders, both battalions were to remain at Solesmes for more than a week. On the Sunday, many of our men attended a Roman Catholic service in the Solesmes Church, the Vicar-General of Cambrai, through an interpreter, expressing the gratitude of the inhabitants at their deliverance from the Germans.

By the 28th, the advance on the Corps front had been temporarily suspended. The Rifle Brigade continued to hold the line on the New Zealand Divisional front, west and north-west of Le Quesnoy.

It was now the lull before the storm. A great deal of cleaning-up work was done by everyone; a certain amount of training was done and frequent use was made of the baths at Marou.

Towards the end of October, Capt. M. Urquhart, M.C., who had only just returned from New Zealand, took up duties as second in command of his old battalion, the 2nd. About the middle of October, Capt. F. S. Varnham, M.C., who, for some months, had been adjutant of the 1st Battalion, was appointed Staff Captain to the First Brigade, and Lieut. A. R. Blennerhassett was appointed acting-adjutant in Ms stead. About the same time, Lieut. H. E. Blennerhassett wan appointed acting-Quartermaster of the 1st Battalion, taking over the duties from 2nd Lieut. A. D. Price, M.C., M.M., who was about to return to New Zealand on duty.

Participation in the advance was not long to be delayed, for, on the 1st November, warning orders were received outlining the operation to be carried out by the New Zealand Division at Le Quesnoy and east of that town, and battalion, company commanders and scouts were already reconnoitring the routes to the assembly positions. The following day, Brigade orders were received for the operation at Le Quesnoy. The whole operation was now discussed by battalion commanders with their company commanders and plans formed. It was Sunday, and, after Church Parade in the morning, all preparations were made for the advance.

page 319

About four o'clock in the afternoon, both battalions marched out from Solesmes, 1st Wellington's band playing us out of the town. The civilians turned out in numbers to see us move off. The march was a slow and tiring one, accomplished in drizzling rain and over a rather bad route. The assembly positions were at last reached, and we settled down in bivouacs north-east of Beaudignies for the night, having a meal from the cookers before turning in.