BATTLE OF THE SOMME

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1932, Page 2

BATTLE OF THE SOMME

BIG OFFENSIVE OF 1916. GALLANT NEW ZEALANDERS. . Sixteen yefers ago, at a critical period of the Great War, the New Zealand Division entered thta Battle of the Somme, in which they “fought with, the greatest gallantry for 23 con'secutive days, carrying out with complete success every task set, and always doing more than was asked of them.”

The great offensive had opened on July Ist, 1916, against enemy positions which were in themselves of immense strength. At heavy cost, in two and 'a half months of bitter fighting, the enemy's second line of defences had /been won, and at certain points very considerable penetration had been effected heyond. The September operation were .planned to break right through, and by rolling up the enemy’s flank, to end the deadlock of trench warfare. The Fourth Army was to seize Flers, Gireudecourt, and other villages and strong points, ‘through which lay the nearest avenue to the "open country.” The XV Corps was composed of thie 14th Division (right) 41st Division (centre), and New Zealand Division (left), each on a frontage of about 100 yards. Stupendous weight of artillery was behind the infantry. Tire operation was also noteworthy for the use for the first time of tanks in battle.

A QUICK ADVANCE. The great attack opened at 6.20 a.m. on 'September 15th, and by i mid-dlay the New Zealanders had gained their final objective, ■ except on the flanks, and they had to withdraw to conform to the line reached by the other divisions.

Though the full objectives of the army had not been attained, the result was, in the words of the Com-mander-in-Ohief, “a gain more considerable than any which had attended our arms in the course of a. single operation .since the beginning of the offensive. Two main lines of trenches had been stormed, and the advance pushed a mile forward along a front of over six miles. As far as the New Zealatnd Division was concerned, it had taken all its objectives, and captured 500 prisoners and 16 machine(rulns. The casualties on September ' loth had been approximately 2000. Then the weather broke and gave the enemy a breathing space to prop' up his tottering line. INFANTRY RELIEVED.

It was not until October 4th that the New Zealand infantry were finally relived after almost continuous fighting in attacks and counter-attacks for nearly three weeks. Commencing on a frontage of under 100 yards they were holding at the close a line nearly three times as long. In the great battle on September 15th, and in all the Ruihscquent fyhting, they had achieved alll but unbroken success, captured five miles of enemy front line and miles of other trenches and fought their way forward for over two miles. Themselves losing under 20 prisoners, they had captured nearly 1000 Germans and many machine-guns and much material. His valour in the fighting of September 15th and 16th, and on October Ist iron for Sergeant D. F. Brown (Otago), who was killed on the later date, the first Victorian Cross which the division received m France.

THOUSANDS KILLED. _ The New Zealand Division won its great victories at terrible cost. Its total casualties for the three weeks were 7408, of whom more the a 2100 Were killed in action. This rate of loss was almost exactly the same as that of the 41 British divisions and the three Australian and four Canadian divisions which took part in the from me offensive, which lasted from July Ist to November 19th. The New Zealand Divisional Artillery remained in the line long after the infantry had been withdrawn. The batteries supported the numerous attacks made 'by other divisions and remained exposed to the enemy counterbattery activity in advanced positions, suffering heavy casualties and endurgreat hardship. After 52 consecutive days in action, the Nerw Zealand gunners were finally relieved on October 25th-26th by the First Australian Divisional Artillery.