HOME FROM THE WAR

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2389, 19 February 1915, Page 3

HOME FROM THE WAR

MAJOR A. A. CORRIGAN'S EXPERIENCES ATTACHED TO THE NAVAL BRIGADE ' Major A. A. Corrigan, of. Wellington, formerly a well-known Territorial officer, returned from England via America, Sydney, and Auckland yesterday afternoon. He left Wellington on a business trip to the Old Country'on July 1, and on reaching .London, where the war obsessed the whole nation, ho Was attached to the Naval Brigade, and was gazetted a major in. the Royal Marines, which became the Royal Naval Division, a force of 24,000 men, who were to be Available for Kitchener's Army, but in the meantime were placed at the disposal of the Admiralty. The 6tory of that division's exploit at Antwerp has been told over and over again, . and early in the week appeared Mr. Corrigan's account of the / important part played there by Colonel (formerly Major) G.;S.. Richardson, of-the. New Zealand; Staff. Corps, who organised the division.

''After Antwerp," said Major Corrigan in the: course .of an interview,' it was decided to wit lid raw the wliole of the brigade from Belgium and organise it on a basis of thorough training. .It had been hurried to the scene and was unprepared. Colonel Richardson occupied the position of Chief Staff Officer. Consequent upon this withdrawal* certain. matters had; to be . adjusted, and I had the . great good fortune of . being deputed as Acting-Staff Officer to •

across on this mission to France and Belgium. My party consisted of a transport captain, a Belgian sergeant as interpreter and'a Belgian chauffeur. On arrival at Boulogne, towards the . end ofOctober, we saw wounded in great numbers and every available place was improvised as a hospital. We saw.many wounded Indians, whose fighting blood had been aroused, and they were very, restless under the forced inactivity. • At the Seat of Hostilities "Wo went on to Calais and Dunkirk,' where my duties really began. Hero we had .first evidence of the bombard,ment from aeroplanes and theeffects of the bombs on the cobbled streets. Our duty took us' to Fumes, the headquarters of the Belgian Army. I was fortunate in getting in at the opening engagement, following the repulse of the German advance in that section, and the second advance: of the enemy when they established trenches on the right bank of the Y6or. .

•; "They, had already reduced Nieuport to a heap of ruins, and the, German infantry. had. crossed the mouth of, the Yser.on pontoons, and established:themselves: in the sand; dunes on the left of. Nieuport. : A smart infantry engage-ment-was proceeding.' From the coast, naval tugs with 9in. ,guns shelled the German artillery positions at Westende, and at night the monitors used tO oome up. The moaning of the big guns never ceased. Along our front a hot artillery action quickly, developed, and the struggle was carried on with little semblance to .what is assumed to be a picture of a battlefield. ' .

"My vantage post was ths top of an old'templ'ar tower, where maps were spread on the parapet. We were able to ,• watch' the progress of the action until they'got our range with shrapnel, and. we had to evacuate Between us and Fumes, the reserve infantry: had been drawn;up, and the artillery . was sheltered from the observation of aeroplanes - overhead, which never • ceased, droning. We became, accustomed to that,, and almost forgot tleir existence. "One familiar >battle-picture incident was afforded' by the' splendid French cavalry.. The men were splendidly and looked wsll in their brilliant uniforms. They rode off to take up a position on ,the flank of a wood where the infantry action was taking place." Work of Ambulance Men.

Major Corrigan spoke enthusiastically of the bravery of the; ambulance and ammunition mep, who alwavs took the shortest cuts regardless of danger, and were never .without cigarettes. The rapidity of fire . and accuracy of the French artillery were marvellous. Whole batteries of Germans rode in to secure a position, but, as far as could be seen through tho;glasses. only their total extinction resulted. The most interesting points, from a military aspect were the method of handling the men and the departure from rules which previously had been regarded as absolutely fixed. ; Questioned in regard, to equipment, the major said it was a'surmising fact that the. British fighting man was still unnecessarily heavily laden. * The equipment in use was in striking contrast to-the German outfit; which was a marvel of lightness . and efficiency. V

When the organisation of the division had been completed. Major Corrigan was allowed to'withdraw, an-i attend to his own business on which he had'gone to England. He was glad, to bo back in Now Zealand, and he hoped to he, directly or indirectly, of further service.- ' . 1 . ■