Other formats

    TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

Regimental History of New Zealand Cyclist Corps in The Great War 1914-1918

Chapter VIII. — Battle of Messines

page 39

Chapter VIII.
Battle of Messines.

Preparations for an advance on our particular Army front were obvious, although little was communicated to us by the Higher Command. Guns and ammunition of all calibre began to arrive. Troops and many other signs, including the vastly increased traffic on the roads, could only mean one thing, and all ranks were keenly interested as to their part in the job. To control the traffic the greater portion of two Companies was sent out on point duty to control and direct the endless streams of waggons, lorries, cars, troops, etc. Captain A. H. Richards was in charge of one area for traffic and Lieut. Lord, A.I.F., another.

During the latter part of May, 1917, matters in regard to the projected attack on the enemy positions on our Army front, assumed definite shape. The Army front at that time embraced that sector of country just south of Hill 60 (S.E. of Ypres) to Lys River. Our Corps which was acting on front Wytchaete to the River Lys issued orders administrative and tactical and assigned each Unit its part in the show.

The Corps Mounted Troops consisting of the 2nd Anzac Corps Mounted Regiment, 2nd Anzac Corps Cyclist Battalion and the 7th Motor M.G. Battery were allotted the following tasks:—

1.M.M.G. Battery to be detached and come under orders of G.M.G.O. for employment in the M.G. Barrage.
2.Mounted Regiment to move forward three hours after zero hour and engage enemy in front of Infantry, capture guns and obtain information, etc.
3.Cyclist Battalion to prepare a track from our Reserve line, through our support and front page 40line system, across No Man's Land, and through German trenches to a point called Middlefarm about 500 yards north of Messines, so as to enable the Mounted Men to get through, as otherwise it was impossible for the horses to move through the tangle of wire and trenches and shell holes.

The reconnaissance of the line was made by the CO. Mounted Troops (Lieut.-Col. Hindhaugh), Major R. B. Wood 2nd i/c Mounted Troops, Major Evans and Captain McHugh (Cyclists).

The portion of the track in rear of our own front line was prepared beforehand and marked out with pickets. The work of making this portion was entrusted to Capt. McHugh (Q.C. No. 1 Coy.) who with his party carried out the work in two nights. This work entailed the filling in of shell holes, cutting through our own wire and bridging over one stream and four communication trenches, besides having all material carried to the front line trenches which was required forward on the morning of the battle. The work forward of our trenches could not be reconnoitred, but the ground was carefully studied from the front line.

The attack was fixed for the 7th June, 1917, and the zero hour, 3.10 a.m. The details of our work were thought out and definite jobs were told off to certain parties. There were some 1,800 yards to do, and as time was short, careful organisation was necessary to ensure completion.

The following Officers, etc., were engaged:—

  • Major Evans, to reconnoitre and peg off the line to be followed by.
  • No. 1 Party, to clear wire and mark line. 2nd Lieut. W. L. C. McLean and 13 men.
  • No. 2 Party. To clear timber and remove obstacles. 2nd Lieut. A. C. P. Hay and 30 men.
  • No. 3 Party. To fill shell holes, trenches, and level the ground. Lieut. Griffiths (A.I.F.) and 84 men.page 41
  • No. 4 Party. To bridge streams. Captain McHugh and 25 men.

Balance of Unit in Reserve in old front line to carry on track further if required and to replace casualties. Battalion Headquarters and F.A. Dressing Station in old front line.

On the morning of 7th June, at 2 15 a.m., the parties left their billets near Steenwerck and cycled to White Gates on Hill 63, a distance of 7 or 8 miles. On the way up, when near Romarin, enemy gas was encountered and gas masks had to be put on. Further on, higher ground was reached, where the gas was less oppressive. On reaching our rendezvous everything was dead still, not a gun had been heard for an hour or so, when suddenly a huge 12in. gun in the rear was fired, at which signal 19 mines along the whole army front were exploded; thus at 3.10, zero hour, the Battle of Messines was heralded.

As we were not due at our front line till zero hour plus one hour, we had plenty of time to work our way up to our objective (the front line). On arrival, the front line was being "straffed" heavily, and there our casualties started. Private A. Duff was killed outright and several men wounded. Punctually to time all parties arrived and the work was started and the whole track finished about half-an-hour less time than was allotted us. Every man worked hard, despite the fact that the enemy shelling was intense and several casualties occurred. In bridging the Steenbecque Stream the locality was subjected to very heavy shell fire. Private Cairns was killed outright, and Privates C. L. Anstey and C. Barwick subsequently dying of wounds received in this area, besides 19 men wounded.

At 7.30 prompt the Mounted men appeared in view and moving at a smart trot along the winding track we had made. Their advent cheered the men, both wounded and sound. The Irish Infantry on our left gave them a page 42cheer as they passed over the hill. They too suffered several casualties, but did their job well and earned abundant praise for the valuable information gained.

Our men, their job finished, remained on Messines Ridge in reserve, ready to carry on if required. At 2 p.m. they were withdrawn, and picking up our reserve troops at Boyle's Farm on the Wulverghem-Messines Road, we withdrew to the top of Hill 63 and bivouacked. Next morning, in anticipation of having to move forward again, two reconnoitring patrols were sent out to ascertain condition of roads to Messines. 2nd Lieut. Dickeson, C.A., and 2nd Lieut. Griffiths, V., were in charge, and these parties had a lively time getting through the enemy's retaliatory barrage.

The Battle meanwhile had gone well, and all objectives gained. The attacking troops were the 3rd Australian Division (right), N.Z. Division (centre) and the Irish on the left. Our part, though not spectacular, was important, in fact just as important as any other, and earned the highest praise of the Corps Commander. On the whole Army front each Corps Troops was allotted the same task as ours, but was not so successful as we were. One Corps got its cavalry out at 3 p.m. in the afternoon; the other, not at all. The behaviour of our men was splendid. To advance against an enemy during a heavy fire, when there is a chance of hitting back, is quite a different matter from working under heavy fire where no such chance exists.

The following decorations were awarded:—

D.S.O. Major C. Hellier Evans
M.C. Capt. H. D. McHugh
M.M. Sergt. A. H. Coe
Sergt. A. C. Anderson
Sergt. R. H. Sly
Private R. J. Ringham
Private F. J. Sharpe

On the 11th instant the Mounted Troops were ordered up to Hyde Park Corner (Ploegsteert Wood) page 43to assist the 3rd Australian Division on some minor tactical operation. At 8 p.m. we arrived at Ploegsteert Wood and received orders to take up a position east of Ploegsteert Wood by night, with a view of attacking and taking the Sugar Refinery in the early morning. This was modified by later orders and our task was to establish a line of outposts near Thatched Cottage. These two parties, about 30 strong, with Lewis guns, set out after dark directed by guides whose knowledge of the country was very vague. One party got lost and returned; the other under Lt. Lord (Aust. Coy.) succeeded in reaching its objective at 2.a.m. Battalion Headquarters and also those of the Mounted Regiments were established in Bunhill Row, a strong breastwork running through the wood. The enemy shelled the Wood all night and it wasn't very comfortable. Next day nothing happened and at dusk our outposts were withdrawn and the Unit then returned to permanent billets at Steenwerck without having suffered any casualties.

Next day, 13th June, orders were issued to the Unit to continue cable burying from our old front line to points forward in the recaptured territory. A reconnaissance of the work was made by the officers who decided that owing to visibility it was advisable to work by night instead of by day. Work on the job was started that night and continued for three weeks, when it was completed. About 5 miles of trench were dug in this job. The cable burying parties were frequently subjected to enemy fire and casualties occurred. Sergt. R. H. Sly and Corp. Bellamy were conspicuous in their behaviour in getting the wounded away one night when we were caught in heavy shell fire. Both these N.C.O.'s were wounded, and despite the heavy fire, carried the others to safety, returning for those left behind. For their conspicuous bravery, Sergt. Sly was awarded a Bar to his M.M., and Corp. Bellamy awarded the M.M. Privates A. P. Kay and M. A. Pankhurst were killed in this area on the 10th July.

page 44

On the 26th June, H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught visited the front and inspected representatives from all the Corps Units at Bailleul. Our Battalion was represented by several Officers and N.C.O.'s.

On the 6th July the Corps Commander inspected all the Corps Mounted Troops at our billets, and presented ribands of the decorations awarded for the Messines Battle.

page break
Concert Celebrating First Anniversary of the Battalion,1917.

Concert Celebrating First Anniversary of the Battalion,1917.

First Anniversary Dinner,1917.

First Anniversary Dinner,1917.

page break page 45