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Hokitika Guardian, 31 August 1932, Page 4

There was an interesting anniversary,' on Saturday, the 14th, of the capture of Bapaume in 1918/in which the New Zealand Division , took a prominent 'parti. The evening of August 25th saw the Now Zealand Division established north and' west of Bapaume. A bout'that town', however, the German resistance had ' stiffened to a remark- 1 able degree. . Away to the right the 63rd Division was held up-in front of Thilloy and with it the right of the New Zealand. Division. On the other flank, after a long day of strenuous fighting, the left of the, Division, in co-operation with the 37th Division, had secured Favreuil. The next day saw; no rqaterjal, alteration of. the situation. Before "Thilloy tile 63rd Division was unable to move and our right in consequence made small progress. Here during the ■ day Captain .(then Sergeant)’Judscm' tvon the Victoria Cross. On the left a hard day’s struggle took the New Zealand Rifle Brigade forward about 1000 yards. Next day saw a slight rearrangement of our forward troops, but as the 63rd Division , was still held up, no attempt was niad'e to assault Bapaume. The increasing degree of resistance offered by the enemy about Bapaume suggested to the British Higher Command that the enemy’s intention was to hold that place, only sufficiently long to cover hir withdrawal to the Handenburg Line. In consequence it* was decided to maintain strong pressure* on him hy means of fighting patrols next dav and to take immediate advantage of any sign mf weakening. •, ‘During' the night. August 28-29, the hostile artillery and machine-gunr, became noticeably less active. (By early morning the German flares—in normal circumstances always numerous—were most infrequent. The two' leading brigades, therefore, began to push out strong fighting patrols which soon occupied St. Aubyn station and. the suburbs. By 8.30 a.m. the Ist Battalion Auckland Regiment was pushing round the southern outskirts of Bapaume, while the third Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, had entered the northern portion of the town itself. Shortly afterwards the Ist Battalion, Wellington Regiment, had passed through the town and was pressing on after the German rearguards. ' Progress on the flanks was again slow" during the day •as here resistance was encountered at c early stage. But by 4 p.m., the Division was in touch along its whole front with the hostile rearguards with Bauaume well to its rear.