WAR STORIES

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1929, Page 5

WAR STORIES

HAMMING A GERMAN DESTROYER, In the night of April 20, 1917, the large Britisn flotilla leaders Broke and Swilt were patrolling the Straits of Dover near the western end of the barrage mines and nets which had been laid to prevent the passage of German submarines. T.,e Broke, com* nianded by Cdr. E. R, G. R, Evans (.famous as one of Captain Scott’s companions in Antarctic exploration), was remarkably armed, having no fewer than four 4-in. guns which could are right ahead. Their business was to deal with a powerful German destroyer squadron, which had been sent to Zeebrugge some weeks earlier with the object of raiding the British coast, f lie British sighted the Germans steaming in the opposite direction, and the Swift and Broke, going at highspeed, turned towards the Germans, each selecting a boat to ram. The Swilt missed her antagonist, and passed through the German fine, exchanging a fierce fire with the German boats.

Meantime the Broke poured a fire on the Germans from her four guns that would bear ahead, and a few seconds later fired at them the port foremost torpedo tube, One of the Broke’s officers shouted to Cdr. Evans, “We’ve got her.” “Got what?” Evans replied. As he asked the question it was answered: he saw the torpedo strike the German destroyer GBS amidships, disabling her completely and setting her on fire.

Close at hand was another German destroyer, G 42, and at this Evans steered with Ins 1,900-tons flotilla leader, going 27 knots.

A cloud of smoke and sparks (he wrote afterwards) belched forth from uieir funnels, and we got a momentary whiff of this as we tore towards her. L all happened in a few seconds, and the feeling of exhilaration as we were about to strike her can never be repeated. At the moment we crashed into her port side, abreast of the after-funnel, my enthusiasm overcame me and I shouted out: “That means two months’ leave.” Meanwhile from various directions British destroyers were converging o? the scene of conflict near the Downs and the two shattered German destroyers which lay there helpless, both of which went down.

THE 1/oTH YORK,AND LANCASTER REGIMENT AT PASSCHENDAELE. When the 1/oth York and Lancaster Regiment reached the assembly position near the Gravenstafel road on October 9, 1917, it had been on tlie move ifc(r .eleven hours. The trudge forward through deep mud and round -shell craters filled with water was a terrible test .of endurance for heavily laden infantry, yetonly five men fell by the way. At 5.20 a.m. the battalion advanced to the attack and stormed tlie enemy “pill-boxes” near Fleet Cottage, turning upon the Germans one of their own machine guns.

In crossing the swollen Ravebeeke stream, which was' waist deep, the Yorkshiremen fall too far behind the creeping barrage; but, although they were raked by machine-gun and art'Uery fire, they were able to struggle on and reach their appointed position. There was no sign of the battalion which was to come through and carry on the attack, so the York and Lancasters attempted the task. Bombing parties floundered forward to deal with tne “nill-boxes” on the crest of the ridge above and found themselves held up by uncut wire. In any case there were not enough men ’eft to make such headway.

Aren of other Yorkshire battalions as-, sisted in a new effort, but the resistance of the Germans—men of the 6th. and Bth. .lagers—could not be broken. Till daylight faded advanced posts of the York and Lancasters crouched in shell holes only forty yards from the German position. It was now a snipers’ battle. .• _ • During the night some reinforcements arrived, but not enough to enable a fresh attack to be launched, and after lying out in the mud for another day the ±/sth York and Lancaster were relieved. They had lost 10 officers and ho fewer than 350 others.

THE 2nd ROYAL WEST KENT REGIMENT AT THE BATTLE OF SHARQAT. The advance upon Mosul was the concluding stage of the war in Upper Mesopotamia. Leading the mam column up the right bank of the Tigiis on October 28. .1018, the 2nd Royal West Kent Regiment 'found its path obstructed by deep nullahs, and only excellent leading and discipline prevented confusion. About noon the battalion came under fire from Turkish trenches astride the Mosul road about three miles south of Sharqat. Our troops on the flanks were not yet far enough forward to close in upon the enemy who might have slipped away had the West Kents not advanced swiftly to the attack. Only a few of our guns had been able to come up in time to support the movement, but machine guns lent valuable aid to the battalion which went forward in a most workmanlike manner and carried the Turkish front line, a lance-corporal rushing a machine gun single handed.