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Chapter XL.

This pleasant, interlude was shortly to come to an end, for, on the 1st July, the 1st Battalion relieved part of the King's Own Regiment and part of the 1st Royal Munster Fusiliers, in the line at Rossignol Wood, while the 2nd Battalion embussed at Vauchelles and proceeded to Souastre, thence marching via Fonquevillers to Gommecourt, becoming battalion in reserve to the left Brigade of the Division.

Large numbers of men of both battalions, as, indeed, of the whole division, were at this time suffering from Spanish influenza, a fore-runner of the malady which was shortly to sweep England, and, in a more virulent form, New Zealand itself. The numbers were soon so great that a Divisional Isolation Camp had to be formed. In 2nd Wellington alone during the first week in July, over one hundred men were afflicted.

On 9th July, at about 11 o'clock in the morning, Lieuts. W. G. Salmond and L. W. H. Grace and Pte. C. J. Dallard of the 1st Battalion were exploring Rossignol Wood, when they were attacked with bombs from the enemy in one of the pill boxes among the trees. Both officers were severely wounded and Dallard slightly. Dallard carried Grace some sixty yards back to safety and then returned to rescue Salmond who was lying within fifteen yards of the enemy post. He waa greeted by a further shower of bombs, and page 265was himself again wounded in three places. When he got close to him, he could see that Salmond was already dead. Dallard^* then retraced his steps to Grace, and, notwithstanding his own wounds, carried him to within thirty yards of our own lines, when a party went over the parapet and brought in both Grace and Dallard.

On the night of the 9th July, the 1st Battalion was relieved by 2nd Canterbury, and, on relief, marched by qempanies to a tested camp in Couin Wood, where it remained for more than a week.

There was little of incident with the 2nd Battalion, engaged as it was on working parties under direction of the Engineers, although there was some jubilation on that battalion receiving an allotment of English leave, the first for some months.

Early in July, on our left, a gas attack was delivered on Buequoy, from gas projectors—a considerable cloud resulting. On the 9th July, the 2nd Battalion was relieved by 2nd Otago, and proceeded to Sailly-au-Bois, and helped to garrison Chateau de la Haie Switch. There was work in plenty now. Numbers were employed on a new shaft at the Catacombs; others were working at deep dug-outs in each company sector: others again were moving the transport lines at Couin. The baths at Coigneux were taken full advantage of.

On the night of the 17th July, the 1st Battalion relieved 3rd Battalion Rifle Brigade in support while 2nd Wellington relieved the 1st Battalion of the same brigade in the front line. The latter relief was complete at midnight with but few casualties, considering the fact that the advanced trenches had only just been captured by the Rifle Brigade from the enemy. The following day, Ruahine Company (2nd Battalion) pushed out patrols in daytime and successfully established advanced posts at night in Jean Bart Sap, while one evening a few days later, two platoons of Wellington-West Coast Company and two platoons of page 266Ruahinc Company moved forward from Jean and Ford trendies and, after bombing several German posts, occupied the line Jean Bart—Home Avenue. As was only to be expected, enemy machine-gun fire and artillery were active against the new line shortly after consolidation was completed.

At 2 o'clock in the afternoon of the 20th July, word was received that the enemy was evacuating Rossignol Wood. At 4 p.m., a telephone message was received from the Brigadier that the Second Brigade on the left had penetrated through Rossignol Wood, and that 1st Auckland was moving forward in touch with the Second Brigade and was making progress in Duck Ally and Swan Ally. It was thought that the enemy might be moving back on the whole, brigade front, and 2nd Wellington was ordered to push forward patrols and endeavour to occupy an advanced line.

By 6 p.m., our patrols were pushing forward down Guesclin Trench, Jean Bart. Brisouk and Knox Saps, and, two hours later, our posts were established on the line ordered. Several enemy posts were encountered in Chasseurs' Hedge; but the Germans ran on the approach of our patrols, without offering resistance. One light machine-gun was captured. We, ourselves, had no casualties.

The following day was quiet. The night was spent in improving and deepening the saps leading into our new positions. Patrols worked forward of Chasseurs Hedge, and penetrated down Nairn Street and Caber Trench, which were found to be unoccupied. On the afternoon of the 22nd. information was received that patrols from 1st Auckland on our left had penetrated some distance down Nameless trench and found it clear to the enemy. Second Wellington was now ordered to connect its line in Chasseurs' Hedge with Nameless trench by posts making touch with 1st Auckland in Nameless and Nameless support trenches.

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As soon as it was dusk, this operation was effected by the left company without casualties—three fresh posts being established. The next days were spent in improving communications to our new line, and in pushing out patrols in front by night and day, On the night of the 25th July, the 2nd Battalion was relieved in the line by 2nd Auckland, and moved back to Sailly. The average advance made by the 2nd Battalion at that time was 500 yards, on a front of about 1000 yards. It was a taste of that open warfare everyone had been looking forward to for so long. Everyone showed a keen interest in the work, while several N.C.O. 's and men showed exceptional courage and resource in patrolling. It was unfortunate that no satisfactory support was forthcoming from the battalion of the division on our immediate right, for, had they conformed with our advance, there was every reason to believe that, in the earlier stages of the operation, La Signy Farm and Red Cottage Spur could have been had for the asking.

During this period in the front line, nine American officers were attached to the 2nd Battalion for forty-eight hours, for the purpose of gaining an insight into conditions of trench warfare in our sector. Two were attached to each company and one to battalion headquarters. These were followed a few days later, by eleven American officers and fifteen N.C.O.s and, on the 25th July, when the lsr Battalion relieved 1st Auckland in the front line trenches, four platoons from A Battalion, 318th U.S.A. Regiment, were attached to it and accompanied it into the line. One American platoon was attached to each of our companies, while one platoon from each of our four companies formed a composite fifth company in the battalion.

First Wellington remained in the line until the night of the 2nd August, when it was relieved by 2nd Canterbury and marched to Rossignol Farm, where it remained for eight, days carrying on with training. Meantime, the 2nd Battalion had been engaged in trench construction and drainage in the Hebuterne Sector and on road repairs at page 268Sailly-au-Bois; but, on the 2nd August, that Battalion had been relieved by 1st Otago, and had moved back into divisional reserve under canvas at Couin, once a camp in the woods now, more or less, a mud hole.

At the memorial service held at First Army Headquarters, Ranchicourt, on the 4th August, 1918, 2nd Wellington had the honour of providing the platoon to represent the New Zealand Division. The officer selected to command the platoon was Lieut. T. L. Ward, M.C. The platoon had put in some few days training at the brigade's details camp at Marieux, and then left for Ranchicourt by motor lorries. On arrival there, the party was billetted in Houdain. The parade was held on the Sunday morning in the Chateau grounds. The seene was an impressive one. There must have been between four and five thousand men on parade, including detachments from the French, American and Portugese Armies, and the Canadian, Australian and New Zealand Forces.

There was also a contingent of nursing sisters. The Army Commander, General-Sir Henry Home, delivered an address and this followed by a commemoration service. At the conclusion of the service, the Army Commander called for three cheers for His Majesty the King, and those were given lustily by the assembled troops. The Army Commander then reviewed the troops. Coming to our platoon, General Home stopped and shook hands with Lieut. Ward and expressed his pleasure at the New Zealand Division being represented, and complimented the platoon on its turn-out and bearing. The ceremony concluded with a "March Past," the Army Commander taking the salute. From the smile he bestowed upon it as it went by, our platoon must have acquitted itself well in General Home's eyes. Lieut. Ward was entertained to lunch and dinner by the Camp Commandant, and, on his invitation, the platoon remained at Houdain until Monday morning. On Sunday afternoon, General Home sent for Lieut. Ward. The General was in a small room surrounded by maps, and had evidently been at work. He shook hands and talked to page 269Lieut. Ward for a few minutes, putting him quite at his case, and again expressed his pleasure at a New Zealand platoon being there, complimenting it on its excellent showing. He asked particularly if the men had been pleased to Come, and made solicitous enquiries as to their comfort and entertainments. The platoon left Houdain on the Monday morning, and arrived, back with the battalion at Couin in the afternoon. Before leaving, General Horne sent Lieut. Ward a letter for delivery to Major General Russell. The letter read as follows:—

"Headquarters,
I. Army,

Aug. 4th 1918.

"My Dear Russell,

"This is to thank you for sending the platoon of Wellington Regiment to represent New Zealand at our anniversary service to-day—and very worthily they did so. They looked splendid. Very fine body of men and very smart in every way. I think we were all much impressed by their appearance and training. We had troops on parade of Canada, Australia and South Africa as well as France, Portugal and United States, and I am delighted that you were able to complete the picture. I hope that Ward and N.C.O.'s and men have been well looked after and have enjoyed their visit to I. Army.

"Again thanking' you and with all good wishes for good future and hoping that we may come together again some day.

Believe me,

Yours sincerely,

(Sgd.) H. S. Horne."