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Chapter LI.

The role allotted to the New Zealand Division was, in conjunction with the 37th Division on the right, and the 62nd Division of the VI. Corps on the left, to attack and establish a line from the western edge of the Mormal Forest northwards through the more distant outskirts of Herbignies to the cross roads at Tous Vents. This involved an advance of nearly four miles from the Division's present line, the capture of Le Quesnoy, and of the ground two and a half miles beyond its eastern rampart.

The civil population was still in Le Quesnoy, and the bombardment of the town was quite out of the question. Without artillery assistance, a frontal attack was impossible. It was arranged, therefore, to envelop Le Quesnoy from the flanks. The plan for the attack on the 4th November, was decided upon as follows:—

• (1) 5.30 a.m. 1st, 2nd and 4th Battalions of the Rifle Brigade were to capture the railway and envelop the western side of Le Quesnny.
• (2) 7.29 a.m. The 3rd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade and 1st Auckland were to establish positions beyond the eastern ramparts of the town.
• (3) 8.56 a.m. 1st and 2nd Wellington were to pass through the Rifle Brigade north of the town, and strike south-east. At about the same page 321time, the 3rd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade would advance on the south of the town. When these converging movements met, the First Brigade would take over the whole front, leaving the Rifle Brigade free to mop up Le Quesnoy.
• (4) 10.20 a.m. The First Brigade would continue the advance to the final objectives, and should the enemy weaken, patrols were to be pushed forward some 3000 yards.

Ample artillery support was to be provided for the operation.

Rain had set in over-night, but at about 3 o'clock in the morning it cleared. Dawn broke fine, but later a thick mist came over, to clear later in the morning, and give way to a fine sunny day. Punctually at 5.30 a.m., our guns and mortars crashed down a strong barrage. The Rifle Brigade at once pressed forward towards its objectives. At some points stout resistance was encountered, which was not overcome without fierce fighting. At other points, the Rifle Brigade established its line with inconsiderable trouble. All along the New Zealand Division's front, the first objectives were reached up to time, large numbers of prisoners being taken, and dozens of machine-gnus falling into our hands.

South of Le Quesnoy the Third Rifles now moved forward, while, shortly afterwards, north of the town, 1st Auckland in touch with the 62nd Division, continued the encircling movement. By 8.30 a.m., the Aucklanders had cleared Ramponeau. First Auckland had under fifty casualties, yet captured some three hundred prisoners and fifty machine-guns.

First and Second Wellington made ready to move shortly after 6 o'clock from the bivouacs near Beaudignies to their assembly positions in the sunken Orsinval road. There was a fair amount of shelling along the Precheltes River and the railway line and at the assembly positions, and the dense fog, which had rapidly come over, and the smoke barrage round Le Quesnoy, made the march rather difficult. However, by 8 a.m. both Wellington battalions were in posi-page 322tion. As they lay here, Lieut. A. R. Blennerhassett, Adjutant of the 1st Battalion, was killed and Lieut. P. H. G. Bennett (Scout Officer) wounded.

A few minutes later, both battalions left their assembly positions and started to move forward to the line occupied by 1st Auckland preparatory to launching the attack upon their own objectives. At 8.50 a.m., 1st and 2nd Wellington moved to the attack, 1st Wellington on the right, 2nd Wellington on the left. As Wellington went forward, the Aucklanders turned to the right, and faced Le Quesnoy, linking up with the Rifle Brigade. The town was being rapidly surrounded.

1st Wellington found little resistance to its advance. There was some fighting on the Villereau Road, and at one point where an enemy machine-gun gave trouble, Sergeant R. Charteris rushed the post single handed, put the gun out of action, and captured the crew. In most cases, the enemy, although in considerable strength, seemed content to withdraw more quickly than our troops could advance.

The 2nd Battalion, moving through the woods on the steep Rhonelle bank, encountered little opposition. A small party of 2nd Battalion signallers under Lance-Corporal J. H. Griffiths came upon three 77 m.m. guns of the enemy still in action. Such a chance was too good to miss. The signallers promptly dropped their wire, and charged the guns. They captured the guns and took two of the enemy prisoners, the others making good their escape. In Villereau, the 2nd Battalion found some fifty civilians and also came upon a party of the enemy (two officers anil twenty-two men).

By 9.25 a.m., both battalions were upon their first objectives, and Wellington-West Coast Company, under Captain E. White (who behaved throughout with fearless dash and determination) then extended the 1st Battalion's right to the southern boundary occupied by the Third Rifles. The First Brigade was now ready to push on to its final objectives.

Although our line was well over a mile beyond the town, there was as yet no sign of the capitulation of Le Quesnoy, nor was there to be for several hours longer.

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At 10.20 a.m., the advance was resumed, 1st and 2nd Wellington moving forward along the whole New Zealand Front in touch with the troops on either flank. A section of Otago Mounted Rifles was now attached to 2nd Wellington, and a section of Third Hussars to 1st Wellington. One of 1st Wellington's companies bore too much to a flank, and Lieut. A. J. Nimmo, commanding Ruahine Company, in support, immediately sent a platoon forward to till the gap. The enemy was now thoroughly disorganized and demoralised. Potelle was taken in our stride. Then passing through the woods on either side of the railway and along the banks of the Rhonelle River, where they captured guns, limbers and horses, 1st Wellington entered and cleared Herbignies. Many Germans had fled into cellars; but few escaped Sergeant H. O. D. Clark and his men. A platoon under Sergeant S. Board captured nearly 200 prisoners and 10 machine-guns. Sergeant F. Baker, M.M., Sergeant I. G. Short. Lance- Corporal F. Lang (who hacked his way through a hedge to surprise an enemy machine-gun), and Private W. G. Vial, who captured two machine-gun posts in succession, were only some of those to rush enemy machine-guns.

At Herbignies and elsewhere, the released inhabitants pressed coffee, milk and fruit upon us. Before mid-day, our objectives had everywhere been reached. The casualties had been extremely light, probably because the attack was delivered from a flank. During the attack, 1st Battalion Headquarters had been established successively at Ramponeau (where a Hun Aid Post was taken over, the M.O. in charge handing over his revolver with old-fashioned courtesy to our C.O.) Potelle Chateau and on southern edge of Herbignies, while the 2nd Battalion's were first at St. Sepulchre, afterwards moving forward to Ferme de Lion (that night).

On the left flank, 2nd Wellington patrols had early passed Le Carnoy, where a party under Company Sergeant- Major J. H. Foster, coming under heavy fire from a house, rushed and captured two machine-guns. Scouts, indeed, went almost as far as Le Grand Sart. By the time the main advance was continued, however, the enemy had filtered back page 324and little progress could be made in the daylight against obstinate machine-gun fire from the left flank, although on the right we were more successful and reached the western edge of Mormal Forest. Private L. G. Loveday pushed forward into the Wood, and followed a road into a clearing more than a mile from the front line. On returning, he saw a party of seven of the enemy. Loveday shot three, and took the other four, including two officers, prisoners. First Wellington's patrols, pushing through the forest, encountered no opposition, except from a cavalry patrol, which Private A. D. Anderson fired on and dispersed, four dead horses, and two prisoners being left behind.

Many notable act of gallantry were performed by all ranks that day. Near Villereau, Lieut. J. Courtney was in command of a leading platoon of the 2nd Battalion. When the advance was held up, he personally reconnoitred forward, and then led a party against a machine-gun, the capture of which undoubtedly saved many casualties. When an enemy machine-gun threatened to cheek his platoon, Lieut. W. S. Brown, M.M., with the 2nd Battalion, attacked the gun, capturing it and killing the crew. Again, near Villereau, he similarly overcame machine-gun resistance. During the operation, his work was brilliant and led in great measure to the capture of several field guns. Private F. J. Nettleingham had shown marked courage and initiative when his platoon had come under very heavy machine-gun fire near Pont de la Louette. He pushed on ahead, located the enemy gun, and forced its crew to abandon the gun. Then rushing alone into the trench, he took some fifteen German prisoners. His prompt courageous action saved many casualties.

Lieut. C. B. Lepper, in command of Taranaki Company (1st Battalion), had supervised the advance of that company over difficult country, and then very ably directed the mopping up operations and the clearing of posts. Many other brave deeds by men of all ranks must perforce go urecorded.

Even after Le Quesnoy was completely encircled, and our line established well beyond it, the enemy garrison still held out, and frustrated the efforts of the Rifle Brigade, page 325whose special mission it was to bring about its fall. Le Quesnoy with its moat and ramparts formed an extraordinarily strong defensive position, and the Rifle Brigade was confronted with an entirely novel situation. Once the investment of the town had been completed, clearly its fall was only a matter of time.

About 9 o'clock in the morning, a small party from the 4th Rifles had gained a precarious footing' on the fortifications; but, on attempting to scale the inner bastion, the officer commanding and one of the men had both been shot through the head and killed instantly. Further progress for the time being was out of the question. Before noon, the Rifle Brigade sent several of its prisoners into the town to explain the hopelessness of the garrisons situation, and to invite surrender. Nothing came of these overtures. Late in the afternoon, one of our aeroplane dropped into the town a message in German of which the following is a translation.

"To the Commander of the Garrison of Le Quesnoy.

The position of Le Quesnoy is now completely surrounded. Our troops are far east of the town. You are therefore requested to surrender with your garrison. The garrison will be treated as honourable prisoners of war.

The Commander of the British Troops."

During The afrnoon, the 4th Battalion Rifle Brigade, made a further attempt. After reconnaissances made by several parties, that Battalion's efforts were to be crowned with success. About 4 o'clock in the afternoon, a small party with a ladder scaled the ramparts. The advent of this party caused a panic amongst the defenders, who met them not with machine-gun fire, but with a jabbering of German.

It was not long before the remainder of the 4th Battalion Rifle Brigade were swarming up the ladder. Within a quarter of an hour, the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade marched in at the Valenciennes Gate.

Early in the evening of the 4th, 1st and 2nd Wellington were ordered to push further forward to the Sarioton Road. Under a light barrage, Hawkes Bay Company of the 1st page 326Battalion pushed through Mormal Forest, two platoons being led by Lieut, (Acting-Captain) C. G. Stewart, who displayed great coolness and initiative. One post only of the enemy was encountered by the 1st Battalion, and this was dealt with effectively. The 2nd Battalion, with Wellington-West Coast Company and Ruahind Company leading, continued the advance, and, by 1.30 a.m., they had reached the Sarioton Road, Taranaki Company wheeling to the left to form a defensive flank. The operation was entirely successful, the enemy having withdrawn, albeit only a few hours before. During this operation, while 2nd Battalion Headquarters were moving forward to an advanced position, Major H. E. McKinnon, M.C., commanding the 2nd Battalion, and his adjutant, Lieutenant S. A. Murrell, were killed by an enemy shell.

What bad luck it was to go right through only to be struck down when everyone knew the War was won, and Germany's capitulation but a matter of hours. McKinnon was one of the original platoon commanders of Wellington- West Coast Company in the Main Body. He took part in the whole of the Gallipoli Campaign; was at the landing at Anzac; saw those few days of stiff fighting at Cape Helles; was one of the very few to cross the "Daisy Patch" and survive.

On the Somme of 1916, in command of Wellington-West Coast Company in the 2nd Battalion, Mckinnon again did gallant service, which was recognised a few months later by the award to him of the Military Cross. At Messines, McKinnon again led. Wellington-West Coast Company and, a few weeks later, at La Basse Ville, he displayed conspicuous courage, and skill in the command of that company for which he received a bar to the Military Cross. At Passchendaele, at the capture of Gravenstafel on 4th October, McKinnon, went over as liaison officer with the English Brigade on our left. Early in 1918, came those shattering German attacks to be countered by our Armies and followed by the smashing of the Hindenburg Line. Apart from a few short weeks of rest in England, McKinnon was with the Regiment all the page 327time. And now, the last time his old battalion ever engaged the enemy, Lieut.-Col. H. E. McKinnon, now its commander, was struck down. McKinnon would have been the first to say "C'est la guerre."

Thus died a man than whom few served his Country in War so long, or so well.

Before 6 o'clock the following morning (5th November) the Second Brigade passed through our front line to exploit the success gained by the First Brigade. During the morning, rain set in, and as the Second Brigade had pushed well ahead, 1st Wellington was withdrawn to the shelter of the buildings on the eastern edge of Herbignies in the afternoon, both Wellington Battalions marched hack in heavy rain to Villereau, the 1st Battalion making its headquarters the Old Mill. Here, Captain M. Urquharl, M.C., took over command of the 2nd Battalion from Capt, D. S. Culumb, who had taken charge on the death of Major MeKinnon.

During this, the final engagement of the War, the 1st Battalion had had two officers (Lieut. (Acting Capt.) A. R. Blennerhassett and Lieut. Quilliam and seven other ranks killed and two officers and 20 other ranks wounded. The casualties in the 2nl Battalion were 3 officers (Major H. E. McKinnon Lieut. S. A. Murrell and Lieut. H. D. Banks killed) and 58 other ranks. The 1st Battalion had taken, it was estimated, 1000 prisoners, while in guns and material, it had captured 45 field guns. 11 limbers, 14 horses, 7 trench mortars, 2 wagons, 60 machine-guns, 1 water cart, 2 small carts and 100 rifles. The capture of the 2nd Battalion were:—prisoners, 15 officers and 414 other ranks, 33 field guns. 33 machine-guns, 5 trench mortars, 1 team of artillery horses, 1 chestnut hack, 7 wagons.

On the 6th, Major (temp. Lieut-Col.) H. E. McKinnon M.C. (Acting Commanding Officer 2nd Battalion), Lieut. 8. A. Murrell (Adjutant 2nd Battalion) and Lieut. A. R. Blennerhassett (Adjutant 1st Battalion), Lieut. H. D. Banks (2nd Battalion) and Lieut. C. W. Quilliam and several men of 2nd Wellington, all of whom had been killed in action on the 4th, were buried in Le Quesnoy Ceme-page 328tery with military honours. The funeral ceremony was conducted by the Rev. Mortimer Jones (1st Battalion), Rev. G. T. Brown (2nd Battalion) and Rev. Segreif (formerly 3rd Battalion). The Brigadier and Brigade Major attended the funeral, and the commanding officers, company commanders and twelve men per company from both battalions. After the service, a firing party from 2nd Wellington fired three volleys.