BATTLE OF MESSINES

Hokitika Guardian, 10 June 1932, Page 8

BATTLE OF MESSINES

A WAR EPISODE. PART PLAYED BY ANZACS. The Allied Powers at the end .of 1916 had decided upon a definite series of operations for the year 1917, th 6 chief of which, was to be the French offensive on the Aisne. It was hoped that this attack wouihl prove decisive and

all British operations were therefore to be subsidiary to it. In the event the Nivellc attack was a failure and left the French army in n,o condition for further offensive operations for isome time to come. Hence the British ■■i'rations assumed a ..special importance in every way. ■

The main operation which had been planned, for 1917 was the,,Third Battle of Ypres. But immediately south of Ypres the enemy was in possession of the* M e-sine-Wytscliaote ridge, from which he commanded Ypres, the Salient and' the valleys of the Lys and Douve. It was therefore necessary to secure this high ground as a preliminary to operations fuither north, and to General lYurner and the. 2nd Army this task was allotted.

. J german organisation.

The German defences in this area, were highly organised and consisted of Wo trench systems on. the high ground with two more in rear on tn - reverse slopes of the ridge; As so niuciti depended on the success ot the Messines operations, it was prepared ; with a thoroughne-s never excelled. 1 Numerous mines, involving five miles of i galleries, were constructed under the* German defences and from May 11 .on-, ward our artillery became increasing’./ active against the German forward defences and wire. On May 21 the. preliminary bombardment began in earnest.

At 3.10 a.in. on JVmr. 7 the battle commenced with the simultaneous roai of exproding mines and the crash of our artillery placing an intense concentration on the German forward defences. At the same moment the infantry of the three corps taking part—from the right, 2nd Anzac, 9th and .10th Corps—commenced their advance. The attack was to take place in two phases. The forward divisions were io secure the Mess in es-Wy tsehaete ridge, and the reserve divisions would then pass through them and take the Oostaverne line. GALLANT ACTION. By midday the first phase had been successfully accomplished. The New Zealand Division had been given the task of capturing Messines itself and hau carried out its task with hardly, a pause. .On the left of 3rd (iiitle) Brigade a slight check had occurred, due to some machine gunk firing from tile ruins of a small village. But this had been overcome with slight delay by the gallant action of Lance-exirpoi al i(now Captain) -S. Frickleton, who. rushing through our barrage, fell on the guns’ crews with the bayonet. Single-handed he disposed of the two gun crews permitting our advance to Continue, and, incidentally, winning for m.i.seif the Victoria Cross.

A long pause now ensued till 3 p.m, : in order to consolidate tho ground already won and to prepare for the final j phase. During this period a determin- j ed counter-attack developed against the New Zealand Division, hut our arti/lery and machine guns smashed it utterly. .Shortly after 3 p.m. the artillery opened for th e final act of the day and the troops detailed lor it moved put .against the first of the Ger- . man rear lines. By 5 p.m. the Oostaverml line was ill our hands except for a short stretch on the .right. Here confused fighting went on for some , time, but early on June 8 the .situation was finally cleared up and everywhere the 2nd Army was in po-session of the objectives planned for the Battle of Messines. ,