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The Auckland Regiment

XIX. The Winter of 1916-1917

page 118

XIX. The Winter of 1916-1917

"When the snow lay round about,
Deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night,
Though the frost was cruel;
When a poor man came in sight,
Gathering winter fuel."

The Division took three days to concentrate round about Albert, and then, when all had been withdrawn from the trenches, moved back by rail to the training area, 1/Auckland going through Longprè to Airaines, while 2/Auckland moved from Longprè to Liercourt. As the men marched by moonlight from the detraining stations through the beautiful countryside of the Somme Valley, they burst once more into song. For a time, at any rate, the horrors of the battlefield were left behind, and there would be estaminets, no doubt, and mademoiselles, and quite certainly hot meals and sleep.

"So pack all your troubles in your old kit-bag
And smile, boys, smile.
What's the use of worrying?
It never was worth while.
So as long as you've a lucifer to light your fag
Smile, boys, that's the style!"

As soon as the news got round that the New Zealanders were out of the battle the French folks walked miles to renew old acquaintances and very sincerely to mourn for friends who had not come back. The stay in the pleasant villages was all too short. The trains of "40 homines et 8 chevaux" were soon running north, and the Division, detraining at Bailleul, proceeded almost at once into the line, the 1st and 3rd Brigades occupying the Fleurbaix-Sailly sector, which based itself on the little town of Estaires, some eight kilometres south of Amentieres, while the 2/Brigade went back as part of "Frank's" force to its old sector in front of Houplines. The page 119Division had left the Somme battlefield on October 7th, and on the 14th were once more in the line. It had. therefore been "out" for just a week.

2/Auckland returning to Armentieres were welcomed back with joy. The line was very quiet, and the sector seemed to have relapsed right back to its old peaceful state. There was very little to complain of, except the rather flooded condition of some of the trenches. In the first few days after the return from the Somme, the Battalion had the misfortune to lose Lieutenant Ancell, a very promising young officer, who was hit by a stray bullet while on patrol. A few other casualties occurred, and there were also a certain number of evacuations for sickness, brought on by the wet and cold.

The only incident of the six weeks spent on this sector was a raid carried out by Lieutenant Hally and thirty men. The party went straight across, found the gap in the wire by means of an electric torch, and entered the German line. They bombed the dug-outs and took three prisoners, one of whom came to a bad end on the return journey, owing to his insubordinate behaviour. The other two, very mild and inoffensive people, were brought back safe and sound. No one was hurt, and the only ones to suffer any inconvenience were three Canterbury men, whose bay was blown in on top of them during a little retaliation by the Hun artillery. They were only half buried, and, having their heads free, lit cigarettes to pass the time until some friendly soul should arrive to dig them out. Unfortunately for them, the first to come by were the raiders, very elate at their success. Unlike the man in the parable, they did not pass by on the other side, but marched straight on over the top of the prostrate Canterburians, whose cheerful resignation at once gave way to a very peevish exhibition of ill-temper.

The remainder of the time passed quietly enough, and on December 3rd the Battalion moved from Armentieres and rejoined the remainder of the Division in the Sailly-Fleurbaix sector, going into billets at La Gorgue, close to Laventie.

1/Auckland had been going in and out of the right sub-page 120sector at V.C. House, and had also been having a very quiet time. The weather became increasingly miserable, wet, raw and cold, windy, showery, sleety, and then toward the end of November came the frost and snow. Early in December the winter had set in properly—the hardest, coldest, most terrible winter known in Europe for half a century. For many it was the first winter after four successive summers. Gallipoli had been the extreme torment of blazing heat, with thirst, flies, lice and smells. The French winter of 1916-1917 was the extreme of cold, with frozen hands and feet and shivering nights in trench and billet. Frozen snow has a most unfortunate habit of sopping through boots, and cold feet are almost the limit of torture. The scenery was magnificent. Branches of trees were all delicately lined with white, the roofs were white, the wide expanse of level field was all white and gleaming, broken here and there by the dark line of a road or hedge. Very beautiful, no doubt! But the shivering infantry would gladly have exchanged all the beauty for a New Zealand fireside and a warm bed.

In front of the V.C. House sector the enemy bad withdrawn from their front line, going back to the higher levels of the Aubers Ridge. The position, therefore, was not well defined, and on December 1st three strong patrols went out and indulged in a very interesting wander round, which established the fact that the enemy were certainly not holding portions of their trenches, owing to the bad condition of the ground. The same night a German patrol bombed Cellar Farm. Then came three weeks of an almost depressing quietness. Sometimes it seemed that the war had stopped. It became possible not merely to look over the parapet for a continued period, but to sit on it, and even to walk about in No-Man's-Land during the daytime. The Medium Trench Mortars commenced to demolish the abandoned German trench, and the infantry crowded up on the parapet and watched the "plumduffs" bursting with very much the same sense of security as a football crowd watching a match.

Quiet as the sector was at this time, there were ghastly page 121reminders of previous activity. No-Man's-Land was full of dead Australians. It was here the great disaster had occurred when the 5th Australian Division failed completely in their attempt to take the Aubers Ridge six months before.

On this sector the Aucklanders first met that peculiar type of atrocity, the deep dug-out, built for the accommodation not of a few officers or a company headquarters, but as a home for three hundred men. The particular one in question was deep down in the bowels of the earth. It was wet, steaming, dimly lighted and badly ventilated, and the air was an unspeakable pollution.

Lieutenant Oxenham, on the night of December 21st, while out with a patrol party, endeavoured to pass the enemy wire and enter the trench. Unfortunately this particular section was held strongly, and heavy fire was at once directed on the party, with the result that two men were wounded and left in the enemy wire, while another fell in No-Man's-Land before he could reach safety. Next morning Major R. C. Allen and Lieutenant Tilsley, passing along the line, were looking over to see if there were any signs of the missing men. They perceived the man lying in front, and Tilsley, although it was now broad daylight, went out to him. It was an extraordinarily brave thing to do, for he was clearly visible to the watchers in the German line and offered a certain target to any Hun sniper who cared to shoot. Would they do so? He approached the wounded man, while the men in the line held their breath, waiting for the crack of a rifle from the enemy line. It did not come. Instead, a German stood up on his fire-step and waved across. In less than a moment there was an impromptu armistice. A stretcher was hurried out and the wounded man brought in. Germans were busy binding up the two men in their wire. Some Aucklanders crossed, hoping that these two also might be brought in, but the enemy waved them back, one of them calling out, "It is good for us to take them in—we will take care of them for you."

For nearly three weeks 2/Auckland had been billeted in La Gorgue, mostly in French farms, places which have been page 122aptly described as "a number of buildings with a rectangular smell in the middle." During this period the Battalion, with others, paraded for inspection by Sir Douglas Haig, who highly commended 2/Auckland for their creditable turn out.

The New Zealand soldier was not a very religious person, but yet, being of a charitable nature, he was generally prepared to respect and even admire religion in others. The Army was vastly tolerant on all matters of individual character and conduct. One man's little peculiarity was to get drunk too often, another's idiosyncrasy was "two-up," the sport of kings, still another showed an alarming fondness for patrolling No-Man's Land, while one here and there was religious and held prayer meetings. "Well! what would you wish?" They were all good fellows, and small failings and eccentricities of this sort were really not worth noticing. At this time there were two men with the Battalion, Corporal Taylor of the attached N.Z.M.C. and Corporal Madill of the 3rd Company, a Presbyterian minister serving in the ranks, who felt called to publicly proclaim the Word of God. The service was held in the 3rd Company's billet, and will not readily be forgotten by any man who was there. A huge barn littered about with farm implements, the roof high up and in darkness, was the meeting place. Glowing braziers scattered here and there showed groups of men, playing cards, letter writing, reading, sleeping, gossiping. Outside the night was wet and cold. The report of a distant gun, the flash of the explosion were continual reminders of the fact of war. From the darkness outside a little group of men entered the circle of firelight, passed round hymn books, and then commenced to sing the old familiar hymns. Gradually the groups round the braziers joined in, until the old barn was full of the music of the English hymns. Corporal Taylor, standing on an old waggon, preached a sermon of wonderful power. For a space there was quietness, and then the service closed. The murmur of conversation swelled up again, the cards came out, the letters were finished, and all went on as before, save that many a man felt better for the flood of home memories the hour of devotion had called to mind.

page 123

During the winter the N.Z.Y.M.C.A. grew very rapidly. The main hut in Sailly will be remembered by all who were with the Division on the sector. Smaller out-stations became increasingly numerous. One "buckshee show" was installed in the support line on the right sub-sector. These Y.M. centres were very much appreciated and were always crowded.

On December 23rd 1/Auckland were relieved in the line by 2/Auckland, and so managed to have Christmas Day in billets. It was a much merrier day than that of the year previous on board the Marsova in Lemnos Harbour, with nothing but hard biscuits and cold water on which to make merry.

The New Year saw a complete reorganisation of the 1st and 2nd Brigades. The North Island Battalions now formed the 1st Brigade, and the South Island ones the 2nd Brigade. This change brought the 1st and 2nd Battalions of all the infantry regiments into very much closer touch with each other. From this time until the end of the war the 1st Brigade consisted of 1/Auckland and 2/Auckland, 1/Wellington and 2/Wellington.

Certain important promotions were also made at this time. Colonel Brown, D.S.O., was promoted to the command of the 1st Brigade, with the temporary rank of Brigadier-General. Major S. S. Allen was sent to the Senior Officers' School of Instruction in England prior to taking over the command of the Battalion, which in his absence was commanded by Major McKenzie, D.S.O., of the 15th Company. Captain West, promoted to Major, acted as Second-in-Command, while Lieutenant Seddon took over the duties of adjutant. From the 1st Battalion Colonel Plugge, C.M.G., was detached for special work in connection with physical and recreational training, his place being taken by Major R. C. Allen, who was succeeded as Second-in-Command by Major Orr, Lieutenant W. P. Gray becoming Adjutant.

Immediately after the reorganisation the 1st Brigade took over the Fleurbaix sector, and for the next month 1st and 2/Auckland relieved each other in the Tin Barn Avenue and J-Post trenches. The cold was intense, and the enemy only page 124moderately quiet. The main occupation was shooting hares, a sport which was enthsuiastically pursued at considerable risk, not only to the hares, but also to anyone that happened to be within a few hundred yards. Rifle bullets richocheted off the frozen ground in all directions. Hun frightfulness at this time consisted mainly in the discharge of minenwerfers into certain areas of the front and support lines. Fleurbaix itself had for a very long while been immune from the attentions of the enemy artillery, although early on in the war considerable damage had been done. Toward the end of January it once more commenced to draw its allowance of iron rations, and there was more than a suspicion that the Huns were about to lay on the gas. Lying in bed at night with only a few tiles overhead, it gave one a queer feeling to hear the "five-nines" dropping all round, bringing down slates, smashing glass, and generally making the night hideous. During this period the Y.M.C.A. held a competitions carnival at Sailly. 2/Auckland won the debating championship after a very keen contest, in which a number of teams from all over the Division took part. Corporal Taylor and another man walked six miles down through the snow from the front line to take part in this contest.

February 10th, when 1/Auckland were in the line, an enterprising party of Germans, clothed in white, waited in the snow outside the wire for the patrol. The corporal in charge going first was seized—to use his own words "the snow flew up and hit him"—and rushed over No-Man's-Land to the enemy line. Two days later a party of the enemy were discovered in the gap between Auckland and Wellington. They retired after an interchange of bombs.

December had been very quiet. January saw the armies still frost-bound. In February was heard the first sound of the gathering storm which was to burst in fury with the coming of spring. All along the line there was continual raiding, as each side strove to test the enemy defence, and raids, not of twenty or thirty men, but raids of companies, and finally of battalions. 2/Auckland had the honour to be chosen from page 125the New Zealand Division to carry out a battalion raid. On February 28th they were withdrawn to the little village of Bac St. Maur for training, which was of the most thorough sort. Major West was responsible for practically all the arrangements, except for the fixing of the actual zero time. The most minute details were carefully gone into. A plan of the enemy trenches was laid out by the engineers, and over this the men practised the assault. Patrols searched every yard of the ground ahead. Every creek and drain was explored. The Sunday before the raid aeroplane photographs of the Hun trenches to be raided were thrown on the screen at the divisional picture show. Great precautions were taken to ensure silence before zero hour. The duckwalks, both in the communication saps and the front line were covered with straw and canvas. Pine lozenges were served out to prevent coughing.

Sixteen officers and 500 men formed the raiding party. The 16th, under Captain Hubbard, and the 6th, under Lieutenant "Jock" McKenzie, were to form the first wave, while the 15th and 3rd Companies, under Captains King and Mewett respectively, were to form the second. At two o'clock in the morning the men were awakened, and after a hot meal marched off toward the line. Lightly equipped, they carried rifle, bayonet, bandolier and bombs only. Pioneer parties had gone on before and cut gaps in the wire. The parties filed up past Wye Farm, through Gunners' Walk and Bay Avenue to the front line, every one being in place half an hour before zero. They waited quietly, bayonets fixed, looking backward for the flash of the signal gun. It came, and immediately after a circle of flame shot up around the horizon as the barrage opened. The first wave were away at once. They were in the wire before the roar of the first discharge was heard from the guns behind—they were half-way across No-Man's-Land when the enemy trench burst with a roar into a line of light, as the barrage fell. The frost had just broken, and the first thaw had weakened the ice over pools and shell-holes, melted most of the surface snow and softened the frozen ground. Everywhere was sloppy and muddy. Floundering across, the leaders were close on the page 126broken German wire, when almost from beneath their feet the S.O.S. rockets went soaring up. The Hun listening post had done his duty like a brave man. He was shot by Corporal McGuinness, one of the bravest men in the Battalion. So prompt was the German counter-barrage that it seemed as though the gunners had been waiting, pieces trained, and fingers on the triggers, for the signal. The second wave had hardly cleared our own wire when the shells were bursting over the trench they had just quitted. A mass of shell-holes, full of mud and water, marked the position of the enemy front line. In the darkness and the pall of battle-smoke it was barely recognisable. Here the waves merged and passed on to the support line. It was a wild, confused fight. In places the Huns fought heroically, and elsewhere they surrendered tamely. Some were bombed in dug-outs, some were shot, some bayoneted. Many fell endeavouring to escape back through the box-barrage. Lieutenant Taylor, going right on past the trench, found two light field pieces blown out. He and the small group with him would have wandered right on but for a party of prisoners who very politely guided them back. Captain Mewett, though his arm was broken, shot three of the enemy, and refused to go back until time was up. Sergeants Brady, Cuthbertson, Corporals Yorke and Ashwin were all leading well and doing splendid work. Time was up, the whistles blew, and the survivors commenced to make their way back, some guarding prisoners, some helping wounded companions. It was still dark, and, in consequence, not only were many of the enemy missed, but a very considerable number of our own wounded were left behind. The German shelling was very heavy, and many casualties occurred on the return journey. Not a few were hit recrossing the parapet, and some after they had actually reached the shelter of the trench. It was thus Captain King was killed.

The stretcher-bearers were busy from the first. Brown was wounded in the back by a flying splinter very early, but carried on until every man was clear. The Huns very quickly reoccupied their front line, and then occurred a very remark-page 127able thing. As day broke, dead and wounded men were seen to be lying in No-Man's Land. Hun snipers were active. It seemed certain death to venture to their aid. Yet one or two made the venture, gambling on the chance that the Germans might be chivalrous and permit the wounded to be brought in. They crossed the parapet with nerves tightened, knowing that 150 yards away the Mauser rifles were levelled at heart or brain, and knowing that if a trigger was pressed the shot could hardly miss. A German stood up and waved his hands, others got up beside him. New Zealanders came up on the other side. Firing ceased, except for one enemy machine-gun some distance back in the supports. One of the enemy, standing right up on his parapet, signalled back to the crew, and this gun ceased also. Stretchers came out on both sides, and in ten minutes every wounded man in No-Man's Land was taken in, and the dead also. When all was clear a shot was fired in the air. Both sides took cover, and the war went on. 2/Auckland streamed back into their billets, leaving 2/Wellington to hold the line and build up the broken parapets.

The great raid was over, and there remained but to balance the results. On the one hand, 198 of the enemy were counted dead in the line, and 45 prisoners had been taken; on the other side, Captain King and 17 men had been killed, 6 officers and 75 men wounded, while 56 men were missing; a total of 159.

Next morning in the Clearing Station at Estaires died Lieutenant John McKenzie, one of the most famous and certainly the most beloved of all the Main Body men. From the on fall at Anzac to the chill dawn of February 21st, when he fell mortally wounded, he had never missed a day of the fighting. A very gallant soldier, the equal of Holland, Tilsley, Tuck and Gordon in personal courage, he was loved beyond any of them. No man in the Regiment approached more closely the knightly ideal. He lies in the cemetery of Estaires, "Fighting Jock" of the old 1/Auckland, of the Trench Mortars, of 2/Auckland, a very perfect gentleman, "without fear and without reproach."

The Battalion marched to Estaires the day following the page 128raid, and from there followed the remainder of the Brigade to the new sector in front of Le Bizet, going into billets at Nieppe, where on the 25th they were reviewed by General Plumer. On the same day 1/Auckland went into the front line at Despierre Farm.

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Lieutenant-Colonel W. W. Alderman, C.M.G., D.S.O.

Lieutenant-Colonel W. W. Alderman, C.M.G., D.S.O.

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