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The Wellington Regiment (NZEF) 1914 - 1919

Chapter XXIV. — Rest after Battle

page 172

Chapter XXIV.
Rest after Battle.

Brune Gaye—Rue de Sac — Inspection by and congratulations from General Godley—3rd Battalion's Baptism of Trench Warfare — Lieut. T. L. Ward Crosses the Lys and Reconnoitres Frelinghein.

On the 11th June, the 2nd Battalion moved from Bulford Camp, to billets at Gravier—Brune Gave and, on the 12th, the 1st Battalion marched to the Rue de Sac area, the battalions remaining in these billets until the 18th June.

On the morning of the 13th June, the First Brigade was inspected by the Corps Commander (Lieut.-General Sir A. J. Godly), who congratulated it on its performance at the Battle of Messines. On the 17th, a combined Church Parade of both battalions was held at which General Russell was present, Padre Walls taking the service.

On the 10th June, the 3rd Battalion had re-assembled and moved to billets in Pont de Nieppe. At 4 p.m. on the 11th, Hawkes Bay Company of the 3rd Battalion was ordered to report to the Commanding Officer of the 36th Battalion of the 9th Australian Infantry Brigade, which battalion had suffered heavy casualties in the recent fighting. The night before, a company of this battalion had attacked and taken some high ground, 700 yards ahead of the front line at La Potterie Farm, and Hawkes Bay Company was instructed to relieve the former company, which page 173was very weak in strength—consolidate the advanced post, and hold it against counter-attack. In moving overland to the position. Hawkes Bay Company had one man killed and three wounded by shell-fire. The Germans shelled the post heavily the next afternoon and evening, wounding seven more men. Fortunately, the enemy fire was directed at their old trenches about fifty yards in rear, otherwise we would have suffered more casualties. Hawkes Bay was relieved at 10.30 p.m. on the 12th by 4th Company, 1st Otago, and marched back to Pont Nieppe arriving there at 3, a.m. on the 13th.

On the 14th June, the 3rd Battalion was to receive its real baptism of trench warfare, for, at 10 o'clock that night it relieved 3rd Auckland in line in Le Touquet Sector. Nor was the start an auspicous one, for the enemy had not yet recovered from the loss of Messines, and was shelling the sector continuously, with the result that the 3rd Battalion had several casualties, one of them being the Commanding Officer (Lieut.-Col. W. H. Fletcher) who was severely wounded. Major J. L. Short now assumed command. The battalion remained in the line eight days, and, during that period, was active in patrolling, the indications being that the enemy was falling back to the east side of the river Lys. On one occasion, the battalion pushed standing patrols forwards three-quarters of a mile from the front line, no opposition being met.

During this, the 3rd Battalion's first experience in the trenches, Lieut. T. L. Ward was responsible for a very gallant exploit. About 1.30 o'clock in the afternoon of the 15th, Lieut. T. L. Ward, a Sergeant and Private G. Brown, crossed the Lys by a damaged enemy pontoon. Leaving the Sergeant to guard the river, Ward and Brown went along the road into Frelinghien, then in the hands of the enemy. A reconnaissance was made but the village seemed deserted, the Huns, no doubt, taking their midday siesta. Turning through an archway into a factory, however, they came upon a cellar with three Bavarians lying there asleep. These, they took prisoners and came back with them to page 174our lines unchallenged. The Bavarians quite saw the joke, Frelinghein, they said, was held in strength, and the bridge guarded, and a machine-gun detachment whose sentries must have been asleep. The same night, Lieut. Ward led a patrol along the river bank and brought back a valuable report upon the state of the bridges. The extreme fearlessness and initiative displayed by Lieut. Ward during both these operations were responsible for much valuable information being obtained. An attempt to cross the Lys, the following evening found the enemy keenly alert along the river.