WAR STORIES

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1929, Page 2

WAR STORIES

CANADIAN GUNNERS AT THE BATTLE OF A ALIENS.

From positions in the valley northwest of Domart the 4th Brigade Canadian Field Artillery fired in the barrage which covered tho first infantry assault on August 8, 1918. At 8.29 a.in. this task was done, and tiie 13th, 19th, and 27th Batteries each supplied one section (two 18 pounders) to act in close support of the I.2th Canadian Infantry Brigade, which was carrying on the advance. Here was open warfare for the gunners at last.

Coming forward quickly over the old No Alan’s Land, the guns were soon hard on tho heels of the infantry. Tiie major in command of the composite battery was wounded while endeavouring to locate some German machine-guns in the woods north of Beaueourt.

One section soon found a position behind a slight rise and supported by its fire an encircling movement made in this quarter of tlie field by infantry and tanks. The section of the 19th Battery galloped forward and came into action in the onen, one gun putting three rounds very smartly into a quarry where there were some troublesome German machine-gunners. The fire of those two 18-pounders drove they Germans out of the quarry and took toll of them as they retreated. while the Canadian infantry shouted their approval. Two officers and SO gunners of the 4th Canadian. Divisinn had been sent forward to get into action any German guns they could discover. Near the Villers-Brettoneux road east of Hangard AA 7 ood they came upon an abandoned howitzer battery but, unfortunately, the German artillery men had removed the breech-blocks before retreating. Not far ahead the party had better luck, for tlie guns of a captured field battery were found to be complete and undamaged. They were soon slewed round and fire was opened upon German machine-guns still in action in a wood about a quarter of a mile away. Though ; under heavy fire themselves the Canadian gunners cleared the wood of Germans at the price of one man wounded. A German observation balloon then offered a fresh target, hut it was promptly hauled down after a few rounds had been fired at it.

LONDONERS AT MAKHADET HAJLAH.

As a preliminary to a raid into the hills of Moa.b east of Jordan, the river had to be crossed in the face of strong Turkish forces. .At Makhadet Hajlah on the night of March ‘2l. 1918, the 2nd 19th London Regiment •,(St. Pancras) sent, a party of swimmers down to the water's edge. These, with a few Australian engineers, breasted the strong current unobserved and carried a cord to the opposite bank. It was then possible to haul across a strong rope by means of which a light raft could be worked to and fro. Six Londoners made the first trip in this fashion; during the third trip the Turks opened fire, but the ferry operations continued, and soon several rafts were in use. At dawn an enemy machine gun was 'able to enfilade the crossing from a point farther Arp stream, and 1 oft one, raft seven men out of eight were hit. However, by half-past seven on the morning of March 22 the whole of thte .2nd 19th Londons had been ferried across the Jordan. They were in position among the thick scrub on the eastern iba.uk, but the open ground beyond was commanded by the Turks, who held a line of foothills. Fortunately the trees and vegetation near the river screened the activities of the Australian sappers, who had a pontoon bridge ready for use soon after eight o’clock. Two hours later the 2nd 18th Londons (London Irish) crossed by the bridge, and in the afternoon the two battalions made an attempt to advance and clear the Turks from the foothills. As soon as our men emerged from cover the enemy concentrated such a heavy fire'upon them that, although a little ground was gained, it was judged advisable (to suspend operations until night had fallen.

What happened then, and at daybreak, will be related to-morrow.