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Official History of the Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F. in the Great War 1914-1918

A Period of Rest

page 300

A Period of Rest.

A long period of rest was now ahead of the Regiment. The New Zealand Division, having been relieved by the 42nd Division, was reserve Division of the IV. Corps, and the 2nd Infantry Brigade, concentrated in the Authie-St. Leger area, constituted the Divisional reserve. The particular role of the New Zealand Division while in reserve was to restore any part of the Purple Line penetrated by the enemy. The opening days of the rest period were devoted to interior economy, and thereafter general training was commenced. The weather continued perfect for all outside operations, and at the close of each day opportunity was afforded of attending a performance by the Divisional Entertainers, visiting the camps of other units of the Division and renewing acquaintances, or resting in the cool shade of the woods; while the opening of a Club at Authie provided a gravitating point for officers. Thus delightful mid-summer weather, the rare freshness and beauty of the surroundings, the excellent country available for every phase of operations, combined with the pleasant relaxations of the evening, contributed to one of the most profitable and enjoyable periods of rest and training that the Regiment had experienced in France. In the routine of work, attack practices over open country, wood fighting, night operations and musketry received particular attention; while in view of the increased issue of Lewis guns to each Battalion, a large number of additional men required special training in the use of this weapon.

One of the several practice attacks carried out over open country was witnessed by General Sir Julian Byng, Commanding the Third Army, accompanied by his Staff, and in the course of an address to the assembled officers at the close, he expressed his admiration of the way in which the New Zealand Division had filled a gap in the line at a critical period in the great German attack in March. It was realised, he said, that the existing front line system was weak, but the Purple Line was to be held at all costs, and, he continued, "it is to troops such as you that we look to restore it in the event of a break-through."

On June 16th the New Zealand Divisional Horse Show was held on the high ground overlooking St. Leger; and for-page 301getting for a moment its inevitable military aspect, it was an easy matter for a spectator to imagine that he was attending one of the big Summer Shows in far-off New Zealand. In the general organisation and direction, ring management and stewardship, there was much that would have set many people in New Zealand with long experience of shows thinking deeply. There were the same thousands of interested spectators; light and heavy gun and transport teams showed fine condition and evidence of expert preparation, and the jumpers and hurdlers included some of the British Army's best horse flesh, even if the horsemanship displayed by some of the riders from outside the Division was not up to Colonial standard. During the afternoon an enemy aeroplane appeared high overhead, as if to emphasise the almost forgotten fact that the war was still in progress; and later, as the troops were leaving the area of the show ground, several high velocity shells, apparently directed to the locality, burst well beyond and did no damage. Not the least memorable part of the gathering was the opportunity afforded of renewing acquaintances, for it was rarely that the different units of the Division were brought so closely together. The transport of the 1st Battalion of Otago, having been placed first at the 2nd Infantry Brigade Show, was selected to represent the Brigade at the Divisional Show, and secured second place. On June 23rd the New Zealand Divisional Military Tournament was held on the same grounds, the 2nd Battalion of Otago securing second place in the Guard Mounting Competition. The Divisional Band Contest followed on June 27th, involving quite a round of festivities.

By the late afternoon of June 22nd the 2nd Battalion of Otago Regiment had left the Bois du Warnimont, and taken over support positions in the Purple Line between Beaussart and Sailly-au-Bois, until then occupied by the 4th Battalion of the 3rd Brigade, with headquarters at the Windmill. On the same day the 1st Battalion of the Regiment took over the vacated camp in the Bois du Warnimont, and continued along practically the same lines of routine as had obtained during the preceding few weeks.

On June 25th an order was issued for the relief by the New Zealand Division of the 57th Division in the Gommecourt-Hebuterne, or centre, sector of the IV. Corps front; the New page 302 Zealand Division also taking over the northern portion of the front occupied by the 42nd Division. The new Divisional front then extended approximately from the southern side of Biez Wood south to a point immediately beyond Hebuterne, and comprised the forward system, the Purple system or main battle positions, the Chateau de la Haie switch and the Fonquevillers switch, the Red Line, and the Bayencourt switch.

On taking over positions in the Purple Line on June 22nd the 2nd Battalion of the Regiment was committed to supplying working parties for the various defences of the sector, which continued until July 2nd, when it was relieved by a battalion of the Lancashire Fusiliers and moved back to Rossignol Farm, in rear of Bayencourt, Here it was established for several days under very comfortable circumstances of living.

On the morning of July 2nd the 1st Battalion of Otago participated in the review of the 2nd New Zealand Infantry Brigade by the Hon. W. F. Massey and Sir J. G. Ward, who were then paying a visit to the Division in France. The ceremony took place on the outskirts of the Bois du Warnimont, the assembled troops being briefly addressed by the two Ministers.

On the same afternoon the 1st Battalion of the Regiment left the Bois du Warnimont and took over positions in trenches in the Chateau de la Haie switch, near Sailly-au-Bois. The system extended round the south and east sides of Sailly, thence north to the Chateau, comprising a frontage of about 3,500 yards. The weather continued exceedingly fine, and there was no interruption to works of improvement, the construction of new systems of defence rendered necessary by the recent German drive still being vigorously prosecuted. These operations included the construction of deep dug-outs at selected points, and the opening up and development of the vast system of chalk pits under the village of Sailly, a place with great ramifications of tunnels and passages capable of sheltering a very considerable body of troops if occasion demanded it.