ANZACS IN EAST AFRICA

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2789, 6 June 1916, Page 6

ANZACS IN EAST AFRICA

• 4

THE CHARGE AT TAVETA NEK-

ENEMY ON THE RUN

The following is an extract from a letter front Sergeant Jones of the Anzacs, dated Kast Africa, March 14, describing the big fight witn the Germans at Tavula Nek:—■

My last letter was dated the. 4th, and since that time we have been continually on the move, and had one or two. encounters which were of small account as compared with our victory on th« night of Friday last, "xnctlv one /noiitli <inru uur last light. Of course you will have hud an account of the deeds of the 7th liegiiuent. From what other'regiments tell us, we have made a name for ournolvcs. You will have read of tho achievements of Colonel Freeth and Major Thompson before you get my letter. I was one of the small band who was with Colonel Freeth, so naturally feel very proud of what has been done, Thai nek which we gained was a regular shambles, and 1 can tell you ono only needs to see one such sight to realise ths awful horrors of war. Tho summit was strewn with dead and dying men on both sides.

We have the Germans on the run, and are going to keep them going now. The Germans were in a very strong position lit Taveta Nek, and .it was imperative that the position should bo taken. Tlio first to try their hand was a mounted legiiuent, but they were hurled back. Then again other regiments had a go. Wo were in reserve, and at dark on Friday night last we were ordered to attack tho position. We realised that at last we were up against a wall. As soon as the enemy found out that we were going to have a go, they opened fire on us, It was terrific, but wo held on, and when tmlf a mile olf we were ordered to fix bayonets and charge. Cheer after cheer rent tue air from our nion, with howls of dofianco from the enemy. The moon, wan alining brightly, and the glint of tho bayonets as we advanced was a fine sight, but also showed our position to tho enemy, who poured out a perfect cannonado from every conceivable kind of weapon. Doggedly we held on, cheerinn like demons, and with the enemy challenging us to come on. For three liourß wo held our ground, and did not give wa,y an inch, although often we had !o keep cover. At last we got tho ordei '''Advance," and again we cheered and pressed forward. A shout by me, "Are wo downhearted?" brought the -response From a thousand throats, "No!" Again "Shall we win?" brought an emphatic "Yeal* Wo started "Tipperary," and this brought tho response from tho enemy, "Come on: AV'e'li give you 'Tipperary." -And they did; but we were lust as determined tuat that position was going to be taken. About 11.30 p.m., the moon then being under a cloud, Colonel Freeth called. on the Anzacs to advanco on to tho nek. I was on tho extromo right with my platoon, and in single fiio we made a right turn. It was very durk at this time, ajid we liad to mako hay (not while the sun was shining, bu'when the moon was darkened).

The Colonel led the way, and we followed ou. Soon after this a section of our company was told that tho attempt was not to be made, and an order wan passed along to retire und support another company, Fortunately, Colonel i'reeth did not get the order, and wben we got half-way -up tho nek wo found that tho strength with the Colonel was less than thirty men. The remainder, having received the order to support 'the other company, did so, and could not get into touch with us. Colohol J?reeth 01dercjd me. to go back, and find Captain Messer with the remainder of the com> pauy. I had to go back to the point •.vhei'o I last saw the skipper,; but could not get hold of him or make myself heard at all, The rattle of the guns drowned every other sound, so I made my way back aioue, feeling fed up. I had walked along about a quarter of a mile, when an Ask«iri jumped up in front of me. Ho was talceu by surprise, and I tried to bayonet him, but ho was too quick, and shouted to his mates. He fairly Hew 0110 way, whilst I did tho same in an opposito direction. 1 could not fire for fear oJ hitting our own men. X started to climb the lull, when I heard rapid footsteps approaching. I knew that my black op ponents were on my track, so I quickl; got off my pack and took cover, determined not to go down without taking a nigger with me. I could hear - their voices, but could not see them owiny tu the dense bush, which at this spot is a jungle. They did not find me, I am glad to say. Had they done so, I must have fared badly. At last I regained my comrades, and we made for tho top of the hill. We had done what thousands had failed to do, and taken possession of the T'aveta Nek. It was nearly 1 a.m., ailtl all tired to the point of collapsing. Wo took steps to hold tho hill till morning. ' We posted a man every fivo yards all around the top, which was covered by dead and dying men. It was not necessary to tell tho men to keeji awake. They fully realised our perilous position. I shall never forget that night. Major Thompson in the meantime was fighting his way to the hill oil the opjrosite sule of the. nek, and at 5 a.m. bad taken the position with 150 men. Ton have, I am sure, seen tho casualty list, 60 you can imagine what it was like. Tho other regiments cheered us to the echo when they know what we had done. I got back to our lines at 2.30 p.m. on Saturday. ' I had not had a bit of food sinoe 5 p.m the day previous. I was too done up for anything. I had a very narrow escape, a bullet going cleaii through my putties whilst I.was fastening them up.

THe Germans evacuated the position about 2.30 a.m. They left somo to hold the position until they got clear. "Wo will smash them,up before long now.

In connection with this action Colonel Freeth, a one-time New Zcalander who fought in the South African AVar and afterwards took un soldiering as a profession there, and • Major Thompson, of tliß Seventh Infantry, both earned tho D.5.0., while Captain Fniton. well known in New Zealand, won the Milit'asy Crow.

".Toe" (FT. W.) Brewer (a relative of fl-e Wellington family), and .two of Mr. W. If. Haselden's sons, Geoff alio Fritz, wer» ill this same, fight, who were both wmimled. Brewer trot the D.5.0., and was congratulated by the general.