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NEW ZEALANDERS AT CREVECOEUR

HOT FIGHTING IN A SUNKEN ROAD

WELLINGTON TROOPS TAKE

THE VILLAGE

(Special Dispatch from the New Zealand Official War Correspondent.) October 5. The capture of Crevecoeur, across the canal, was brought about by the advance of the Ucilmgton ana Auckland troops; the former actually taking the village. 'The Wellingtons got. across the canal bridge in the dark with scarcely any casualties, for the enemy was shooting short at the-bridgehead. His barrage, however, was heavier than he had put down against us for some time, though it felt mainly upon the support company. The men went through the village, where there was no great opposition, and they got several'prisoners out of the dug-outs. The troops north-east of the village, near the sunken road, had the hottest righting. At one time both ilanks went,, uut. these men, with, tine determination, stuck to their positions and helped to save a critical situation. Their commander did fine-work in spite of heavy casualties, and though wounded badly in the leg ho refused to leave his men. At one stage he was helped' round his position, in order that he might see tor himself what should he doiie, and to encourage his fellows to stick it out. Battalion headquarters was shelled for forty-eight hours, <yid none lost any time in his exits and jus entrances there One man was killed by a shell-burst though sitting well down the shaft, of a dug-out.

A Brave Corporal. Some wonderfully brave work was dono by a corporal of signals. On one occasion when he went forward with a party at night a shell fell among them, killing his best pal and wounding two others. He himself was wounded in the mouth, but he'collected what was left of his small party and went on. He continued at his dangerous work for three days, leading telephone wire right out to company headquarters under heavy fire. Wounded again at a later stage, he slipped back Mid got .his wounded dressed, and earned on for another twenty-lour hours. Jho first crack he got was enough to send any ordinary man into hospital for a mouth. At midnight on October 1 lie borrowed two pioneers, and with them salvaged-wire to complete his alternative line. His magnificent work under these terribly trying circumstances enabled telephonic communication to be maintained, and undoubtedly was the means of saving many runners. The Aucklanders came under shellfire in the Crevecoeur attack during the greater part of their journey to the assembly point across the canal. _ lbo two leading companies, reached their objective and took many prisoners, alter which they went on north of the village. During this advance our barrage died away, as the ground was gettingout of the range of our guns, and the New Zealanders came under heavy shell, machine-gun, and rifle nre. Later English troops came tip, and tlie line was established.

German Gun Crew Captured. H

Two sergeants had an exciting experience. They saw a gun team trying to get away, so they lay bes.de the road .-and sniped the leading horses, lhen they rushed forward and captured the auii crew and remaining horses.. One of the horsos continued grazing in tlie vicinity under shell fire for the rest ot the dav. Previous to this, m another attack,' some cows were seen grazing on the battlefield, a somewhat unique experience, indicating that our advance is taking us into pastoral lands at last. Two stretcher-bearers • behaved with great bravery, carrying wounded away from the heavy shell fire in the sunken road into deep dug-outs, and afterwaids to a regimental aid post The hves ot several of these wounded were thereby Sa TIL has been some further fighting to-day, hr which Rifles and Canterbury men were taking part. We have crossed he canal at twVor three points below Crevecoeur, and have gamed noie ground, though the enemy is st.l ho - i„e a ridge in strength and fighting with considerable determination.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19181011.2.52

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 14, 11 October 1918, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
657

NEW ZEALANDERS AT CREVECOEUR Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 14, 11 October 1918, Page 6

NEW ZEALANDERS AT CREVECOEUR Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 14, 11 October 1918, Page 6

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