MR P. ROBINSON’S ACCOUNT.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1918, Page 2

MR P. ROBINSON’S ACCOUNT.

CAVALRY AT WORK. ["LONDON TIMES SERVICE —COrVRIGHTTf

(Received. This Day at- 8.50. a.m.) LONDON, April 8.

Mr Perry Robinson writes: —Despite the terrible testing time and inevitable losses during the fortnight, cavalry units rqjoice that their arm at last has had a chance to do its share. Certainly they did it, at first being engaged as infantry and thereafter were split into sections serving in the thick of the battle as cavalry dismounted, splendidly covering the infantry retreat about the Oise and Pontoise, towards Noyon and elsewhere.

The 'Scots Greys were once entirely cut off, and spent the whole night mixed up with the Germans,, hut they oscaped in the morning. On another occasion during the mist, the divisional headquarters found itself four times under machine gun fire. The cavalry magnificently charged Quericourt Ridge at midnight on March 25th and pushed the enemy off the highest ground. They then thrust nortward and surrounded S ur gey village. Later in the day. with the assistance of the Canadians, they appeared in a fair way to occupy the whole ridge, wtthe infantry retired. The cavalry held on, covering the retreat. The Gormans attempted an out-flanking movement, but the Lancers, Hussars and Canadians fought wildly and splendidly till they obtained a position. Cavalry units, while holding a line at Fentiers-Biainville-Broyes on March 29th were ordered to help cover the r proaches to Amiens and put the enemy out of Moreuil Wood.

Then followed some of the hardest fighting since the offensive wherein the Canadians finally charged clean through the wood, and got firmly into positions on the MoreuiLDenim Road. They killed great numbers of the enemy. Simultaneously Dragoons and Lancers were sent to head off an attack on Marcelcave- There they co-operated with tho Australians. Afterwards the latter's commander addressed a charming letter to the cavalry commander, praising the magnificent behaviour of his men, and saying it was the Australians’ pride and delight to fight with them.