SPLENDID TRIBUTE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 115, 8 February 1919, Page 8

SPLENDID TRIBUTE

TO NEW ZEALAND DIVISION VALEDICTORY ORDER BY, GENERAL HARPER "UNSURPASSED RECORD" Deserving n special frame for itself, niul a place on the walls of every barrack room, drill hall, and school in New Zealand for all time is the final divisional order issued at Headquarters in France on December 9, 1918, on the occasion of the departure- of the New Zealand Division from the Fourth Army Corps, of which it formed part. The order .is as follows:— VALEDICTORY. The, following 'letter of farowell 'from Lieutonant-General Sir G. H.'-Harper. 1v.C.8., D.5.0., commanding the Fourth Army Corps, is published for general information:—' . "As the New Zealand Division is leaving the Fourth Corps I desire to-place' on record'lay appreciation of the valuable services they have rendered, and* to thank all',ranks for the magnificent fight.ing qualities ; they ■ have invariably displayed. "The Division joined the Fourth Corps at a critical time 011 March 2G, 1918, when it completely cheeked the enemy's advance at Beaumont Hamel and Colincamps, and thus closed the gap between tho Fourth and Fifth" Corps; By a brilliant stroke.it, drove the. enemy from the commanding ground at La Signy Farm," and'gained observation-over the enemy's lines, which greatly' assisted in his defeat on April 5,1918, when he made his last ■ and final effort to break our fropt. Throughout the summer the Division held portions-of the ..corps front 'With but a snort'interval frtr rest. During this period I never had the least ■\nxiety about the security of this portion of the front; on the other hand,- by carefully conceived and well-executed raids, the enemy was given little respite, and - identifications were procured whenever required. In this connection I deplore the loss of that brave man," Ser-. geanfc" fravis, V.C. "It was' the' ascendancy gained by this Division over the enemy that compelled him to evacuate the ground round I?ossipnol Wood.- -

» "At ; the commencement of the great attaok . on-August 2J, 1918, only a minor part ■w'.a's 'allottefi to the Division, but subsequently, on the night of August 24, the Division was .ordered to attack, and swept the, enemy from Grevill'ers, Loupart Wood, and Biefvillers, and sained the .outskirts of Bapaume. Stubborn fighting was experienced around Ba- ' paume, but eventually the enemy was overcome and pushed back to the'east. . /."From'August 24 till September 14 the Division was constantly engaged, and drove the enemy back from Bapaume to the high ground west of Gouzeaucourt, whei'o very' heavy fighting occurred at African Trench. After a short period oi rest the Division was put in again on September 29 to complete the capture of Welsh Ridge, and to gain the crossings over- the Canal de l'Estcaut. A night advance ow;r difficult country, inferBPcted by the trenches and wire of the Ilindenbiirg line, was brilliantly carried out and entirely successful, and resulted in the capture of over 1000 prisoners and over 40 gims. tin October 1 the Division captured Crevecopur against strong opposition, and held it in spite of heavy shelling and several counter-attacks throughout the subsequent days until the great attack on. October 8, when the Division broke through the northern portion of the strongly organised Masnieros line, and penetrated far into the enemy's lino nt Esnes and Haucourt. "Going out to rest on October 12, the Division was again in the line on October 2.1, and drove the enemy back from tiio outskirts of Romeries to Le Qnesnoy. Finally, on. November 4, the Division, by an attack which did much to decide the finish of the war, forced the surrender of the fortress of Le Qnosnoy, and drove the enemy back through Hip forest of Jlormal, the total captures by the Fourth Corps on that day amounting to 3500 prisoners i)iid some 70 guns. "During tho period the Xw Zealand Diviiion lias been in tho Fourth Corps, tliry have captured from the enemy 28". officers and 8745 other ranks, 145 guns, 1419 machine-guns, and 3 tanks, besides much other material.

"The continuous successes enumerated above constitute.n record, of which the-. "Division may_ -well be' proud. It is n record of ivliich I may safely snv has been unsurpassed in the final series o! attacks which led to the enemy's suing for peace. "In conclusion. I wish to thank you and your staff for the willing support which you have invariably given, aw the helpfulness shown in all • circumstances. "I send evfrv man of the Division my heartfelt good wishes for the future.".