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The Wellington Regiment (NZEF) 1914 - 1919

Chapter XXIX. — Training for Passchendaele

page 208

Chapter XXIX.
Training for Passchendaele.

We go back to Train for Passchendaele—Hondeghem —Caestre—Wizernes-Billets at Seller,—Lottinghem and Henneveux-A Trip to Ambleteuse— Brigade Training at Harlettes—Inspection by Sir Douglas Haig and Mr. Winston Churchill—The March up into the Ypres Salient.

ON the 25th August, the 1st Battalion had moved by motor lorries to Hondeghem in the Caestre Area. Battation headquarters, Wellington West Coast and Taranaki Companies were in billets near Hondeghem, while Ruahine and Hawkes Bay Companies, in tents near Terdeghem, were kept busily emloyed in erecting sand bag walls round the tents. Each Company filled and laid 12,000 sand bags. Hawkes Bay rejoined the battalion in billets on the 27th, and Kuahine rejoined while on the march to Caestre.

On the 26th, the 2nd Battalion had been relieved in the line by the 1st Sherwood Foresters. The relief was commenced at 6 p.m. and was complete by midnight. The weather, which had been excellent during our spell in the line, unfortunately, now broke, and the relief was made during a heavy thunderstorm, the 2nd Battalion marching back by companies to Romarin in torrential rain. It was indeed, bad luck for the Sherwood Foresters to receive a thorough soaking just as they took over from us.

On the 27th, the 2nd Battalion left Romarin for Hondeghem in two convoys of motor lorries, one leaving, page 209during the morning, from Romarin and the other, during the afternoon, from Pont d'Achelles. The convoys stopped at Hazebrouck, and it was not a far cry from there to the 2nd Battalion's billets.

On the 29th, the 1st and 2nd Battalions marched to Caestre railway station and entrained there for Wizernes. The 1st Batalion detrained there, and proceeded thence by motor busses to Selles. That battalion had made an early start, leaving billets at 5.45 o'clock in the morning, and reached their destination at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The 2nd Battalion did not leave Hazebrouck till 2.30 o'clock in the afternoon, and had a long wait at Caestre before entraining. On our arrival at Wizernes late that night, the Y.M.C.A. provided a cup of hot tea and biscuits which were greatly appreciated. The 2nd Battalion then proceeded to Lottinghem by motor busses, arriving there after midnight. The 1st and 2nd Battalions now settled down in billets which were not altogether satisfactory for the billets themselves were poor and companies widely dispersed.

Up to this point the Fourth Brigade had not really been a part of the New Zealand Division, being an extra Brigade, and utilized as corps troops. In September, the Rifle Brigade was temporarily detached from the New Zealand Division and proceeded north to dig; thereupon the Fourth Brigade took their place, and for the first time became a unit of the Division, and directly under the command of Major-General Russell.

The 3rd Battalion was not to wait long before it also went back into the training area, for, on the 2nd September, it marched from Pont de Nieppe to Steenwerck, and there entrained for Wizernes. Arriving at Wizernes early in the afternoon, the 3rd Battalion marched some nine miles, and was then taken on to Henneveux by motor lorries, its transport reaching there in good order the following day, having marched the whole distance, being three days on the road.

It was clear that we were shortly to be called upon for a further attack, for had we not been travelling de luxe, per page 210motor buses?—to our minds a certain sign of our shortly being sent "over the top" again.

The weather, which had been wet and changeable during our move, was soon to take up again, and however disappointing billets may be, they are far superior to trenches, and far superior to hutments in reserve, nightly made hellish by gas. As a matter of fact, in billets the 3rd Battalion was in clover. Headquarters occupied a chateau in the village of Henneveux, and the companies were in nearby farm houses, except for Wellington-West Coast Company in tents. The chateau was a delightful change after the Flemish farm-yards. Its gardens and lawns, though neglected, possessed some borders gay with scarlet begonias, and the band (converted gardeners temporarily) soon remedied all neglect. With the lawn cut, its edges trimmed, and the paths weeded and raked, the place looked charming.

Training by companies and battalions was soon in full swing. On the 6th September, the 1st Battalion at Selles, and the Second Battalion at Lottinghem, were inspected by the G.O.C. Division, Major-General Russell.

A few days later, Sir Thomas MacKenzie, then High Commissioner for New Zealand in London, visited the 2nd Battalion headquarters and chatted with officers and those non-commissioned officers and men who had earned distinction at La Basse Ville.

While at Selles, the 1st Battalion had a pleasant break, going by motor lorry to Ambleteuse on the sea coast for a day's sea bathing, returning in the evening.

Brigade training was now entered upon, the battalions marching several times to Harlettes, where attacks were practised under the eye of Brigadier-General Melvill, and frequently Major-General Russell.

During this period of training, a memorable review was held of the 1st, 2nd and 4th Brigades of the New Zealand Division by Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig, on the 14th. In beautiful weather, it was indeed an inspiring sight as battalion after battalion took up its station in the large page 211field. Sir Douglas Haig was accompanied by the Right Hon. Winston Churchill (then Secretary of State for War). Both were, of course, mounted; but Mr. Churchill seemed rather incongruous in his tweed suit amidst the wealth of khaki. All three Wellington battalions were on parade. The Division was first inspected in line of battalion in close column of companies, Sir Douglas Haig speaking a word or two to battalion commanders. The inspection over, we marched past the Commander-in-Chief in columns of platoons, the whole Division making a most excellent showing.

On the following Sunday (the 16th), the opportunity was taken to have a joint Church Parade of the three battalions of the regiment at Selles. General Russell paid the regiment the compliment of being present. Afterwards, the men all lunched together in the open, and the officers at the headquarters of 1st Wellington. In the afternoon, a football match was played between 1st and 2nd Wellington, 1st Battalion winning, thanks largely to Billie Wilson, always a great scorer for the 1st Battalion in these matches.

We knew now we were destined for the Ypres Salient. The march was commenced on the 25th September. On that day, the 1st Battalion marched to the Wardrecque area, and billeted at Heuringhem. The 2nd Battalion marched to Le Sablon, and the 3rd Battalion from Henneveux to Seninghem, a distance of about 12 miles. The (distance marched by the 1st and 2nd Battalions was about 25 miles and the march, was a most exhausting one. The day was hot, and the men marched in full marching order (i.e. full pack up), and for the greater part of the distance upon cobbled roads. These all combined to test severely our endurance, because, during the whole month's training, we had been marching to and from the manoeuvre grounds in fighting kit, and on roads that were not cobbled.

On the following day, the 1st Battalion marched from Heuringhem, some twelve miles to Wallon Cappel, and hilletted in farms there. The 2nd Battalion marched about eight miles to Staple, while the 3rd Battalion marched from page 212Seninghem to Arques, a distance of nine miles, and went into billets there. How beautiful the countryside now looked! These delightful wooded valleys, with the leaves of the trees now taking on their autumn tints.

On the 27th September, the march was continued, the 1st Battalion marching to No. 2 Area Watou, a distance of twelve miles, and going into tents at Mill Camp. The 2nd Battalion marched to Pear Tree Camp, four miles west of Poperinghe. The march began at 6.30 a.m. and was completed at 3.30 p.m.; but a long halt had been rendered necessary at Steenvoorde to enable other troops to pass ahead. The 3rd Battalion marched from Arques to Eecke, a distance of eighteen miles, and was severely tried by the march.

The next two days were spent in resting after the march and in final preparations for the coming operations. Those being held in reserve were now withdrawn from their battalions and left for the Reinforcement Camp at Morbeeque. The Battalion and company commanders went forward by motor lorry to reconnoitre the line being taken over, and the country over which the attack was to be made.