CAVALRY IN FRANCE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16257, 6 July 1918, Page 7

CAVALRY IN FRANCE.

A NEW ZEALAND OFFICER'S

EXPERIENCES,

The following is a letter received re•cntly by Mi H. G. Berryman, Stanley Downs, Nelson, from his son, Lieutenant W. 0. BerrymiiL, M.C., who, before the war, was a sheep-farmer at Oxford, and was tho first New Zea-l-itider awarded the Military Cross: 12th Lancers, 8.E., France, April 6.

After some of the heaviest fighting imaginable, my regiment is now out for a rest and refitting. I am not privileged to describe to you in detail the various fights we were in, but-could write pages on the events of each day of late. The whole attack burst on us like a thunderclap and a flood, and each day we were occupied in stemming the flood at each point as it broke through. A BW ift march to a point this morning followed by a few hours getting m to position, digging strong points, etc., till about midday—everything being very ciliet. Then, about 1.30 or 2 o'clock, a sudden opening of Boche machmc-gim fire from one of our.flanks would break out and increaso in volume. Then Boche shelling, and suddenly, without any warning, you would find that your flank or both flanks had gone, and you bad to retire to your horses, and still further under an intense machine-gun and rifle fire (very demoralising and inflicting casualties), and thus you took no ft now position towards dusk, from which von wero relieved, and then "stood 'to" behind that position all night till you moved off, probably before davbreak, to a fresh position, where the Boche was assembling troops and an attack threatened So wo went on for the first days or the attack. In some positions one could hold on longer than others, but each j,ucceedmg day was a repetition of the last. After a quiet morning, during which the Boche patrols, of machine-gunners had got into position, just after lunon would commence this demoralising ma-chine-gun fire, during which his infantrv and vours advanced, and so you he'ld on 'Being mobile troops, we were always thrown into the apex of his attack each day. However. Fritz began to tire after the first week, and one afternoon wo had our first small though it was, it undoubtelly saved some of the most important ground.at present held by us. The Australians were going to attack, and we were to assist their flank (mounted), but before they were in position, word came that the enemv was advancing, and had reached a most important wood and our infantry was retiring. The fog helped us, and we were np *o that wood, and dismounted, and had our Hotchkiss guns to work ra no time, and to our joy Fritz turned lus back on us, and we soon cleared the wood. Up came the : Australians for the attack, full of fight, and in an honr's time the position had been taken and back we came, readv for another fight next day—of which I will tell you later. Before proceeding, though, 1 must tell you how we admired the, Australians. Their fighting discipline was splendid. They were fresh, of course, and full of fight. Their determination and contempt of danger was unequalled. They were very grateful to us, and two days afterwards the Australian Artfly H.Q 3ent a special despatch to our brigadier, with reference to the work our regiment had done —a,despatch that any .soldier, would be proud of, and when it'.was read out on parade it brought teats of pride to one s eyes—» von can i imaging sucli--a-- thing-possuMe. in. this war I hope to orfclose a copy of'the despatch in this letter. , After, that joint victory we were wftjin'friends with the Australians, ajDd parted from them subsequently with great reluctance. # The following day we were'oS again for another part of the line which had to b« counter-attacked, and a murky proceeding it was too. Imagine, when you have had a good deal of fighting foi eight or nine days continuously, what it must be like to. he hauled out in tho middle of the night and ordered to counter-attack again —cold and shivering enough on account of the elements, - and this "combined with the shelling all around and the uncertainty of things in general made one properly agitated. \ However, iour C.O. drawing lots with the,other C.O.'s for position, had the luck to be in neither of the first waves; — very lucky for us. and after a while things became more-or less normal. For moments of tense excitement, those

when one draws his position in a coun- ; ter-attack take a lot of beating. You may imagine the ominous silence winch verges during this proceeding. The oountcr-attack, which has been described in # the papers, wasa great enccessj' making our second victory. Tho Hun was now held. and. back we came (air that was left of us), not to fight again for a few days, or longor we hope, as we, are now resting .where shells and machine-guns worry us not. Except for two small pieces of lead , in the,forehead lam intact and fit and well, and hope that in our next show :w© will not nave to "files about" for some time. Your affectionate son.

WILLIAM

(Copy.) -th AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY BRIGADE.

Brigade H.Q. I beg to forward herewith detailed report of counter-attack and position carried out by —th Australian Infantry Brigade on afternoon of — March. 1 Report on evacuation of casualties by —th A.F.A. is also forwarded.

The 3rd Battalion (Lieutenant-Colonel I» ; J. Marshland D.5.0.) was detailed to carry out the attack, and was supported by . , . _ The assistance rendered by the 12th. Lancers, Cavalrv Division, was invaluable, and my officers and men are enthusiastic in their admiration of the work done by the cavalry. . . Please accept the thanks of myself and my brigade for your kind letter of appreciation. ... I The 12th Lancers preceded the Australian Battalion, .and reached the wood Kvof B ns de H about 4.15 p.m. (Tbiß wood will in future be referred to Lancers' Wood.) ... It was a proud privilege to be allowed to work with "Jen a fine regiment as the 12tb Lancers. Tbeir approach march instilled in the .loen the utmost confidence and enthusiasm. They (the 12th Lancers) lost no wne in effectively clearing Lancer Wood, and got there just in time, as bad obtained n footing in tv ' • ef lgo6 of the wood. » j Lancers protected the edges ♦♦ allowed us to move, forward to the v li j seeing the cavalry the enemy Snellod Lancers' Wood very heavily and chirfly with 6.9'5, -laying particular •iIS? 2i *° on * Cr edjres of the *°00. Fairly henvy casualties to tho were inflicted, but the horses J;® r ® |®on led from tho wood to a posiof Villers Brnt"nnenx-Auber- ?"? r t road. The discipline during tho . shelling was an object-lesson. JT"? nttuck the cavalrv protectboth our flanks—the left nnd H.Q.'s. . withdrew at about 7 p.m. All were eager to give every possible » —throughout there was whole«W|ted corporation. flt*» W gained in this, our Sj' °5f with caval-y was inva'u--2i ■■j.9 ne was to judge of the ■ H»«adid work they are doing for the •jjlv at thepresent time and they'can- ' • /o* *°° '"Shly praised. ~H9ipnod) . XIEUT.-COL. MARSHLAND. . A.1.8.