BATTLE OF YPRES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5487, 14 October 1929, Page 4

BATTLE OF YPRES.

HAURAKIS AND AUCKLANDERS.

TWELVE YEARS AGO.

(Specially written for the “Hauraki Plains Gazette.”)

Twelve years ago last Saturday, week, October 4, 1917, saw the Haurakis and Aucklanders participating in one of their most sanguinary engagements in the war, that of Gravenstafel.

On that day at zero hour—6 a.m.— the following New Zealand units were lined up near Ypres ready to attack : First battalion, North Auckland Regiment, Lieut.-Col. Aiderman, C.M.G., composed of one company each of 3rd Auckland, Capt. Coates, M.C. ; 6th Hauraki, Capt. G. Holland, M.C. ; 15th North Auckland, Major Mahon ; 16th Waikato, Capt. Parry. Second Auckland battalion, Col. S. S. Allen, Lieut. E. A. Porritt adjutant; one company each of 3rd Auckland, Capt. Taylor ; 6th Hauraki, Capt. Thomas ; 15th North Auckland, Major McClelland ; 16th Waikato, Capt. Hubbard. Third Auckland battalion, Lieut.-Col. Blair, D. 5.0., M.C., Lieut. C. Nicholl adjutant ; 3rd Auckland, Lieut. H. A. E. Milnes ; 6th Hauraki, Capt. Dittmer ; 15th North Auckland, Capt. Evans ; 16th Waikato, Captain Gillett. The Ist and 2nd Wellington battalions and machine gunners, etc. Burton’s “History of the Auckland Regiment” says :— “On the night of the 2nd/3rd the Ist and 3rd Auckland moved up and took over the front line. Two attacks were planned for the New Zealand Division. On the right flank of the New Zealanders were the Australian Divisions, and on the left British troops. Throughout the whole of August the German losses had been very serious. . . . For several days they had been counter-attacking, but had met with little success. Heavy reinforcements arriving, they had prepared a great attack for the morning of October 4. Intelligence of this had reached the British Higher Command some time before, giving them the opportunity to anticipate the enemy’s move. On the night of October 3/4 the battalions of the second wave moved up to their battle stations. During the night the weather broke, and fine drizzling rain commenced to fall. Men huddled together in the shellholes, without overcoats, shivering under their oilsheets. . . . “Zero hour was at 6 a.m.—ten minutes before the time fixed by the enemy for their counter-attack, and about a quarter of an hour before dawn. Suddenly the sky was red with leaping flame, and the air was full of the rushing of innumerable shells. The long roll of the drumfire beat out into the morning air, while the sharp rattle of the thousands of machineguns pierced the duller roar of the cannon. . . .

Death of Captain Parry. “The constant heavy shell-fire had turned the running stream into a wide bog, which could be traversed only in certain places by winding paths, along which men could pass very slowly and in single file. The German shell-fire was playing with remarkable accuracy on the narrow tracks. . . . Men went down fast. “Come on you fellows, follow me !” cried Lieut. White, as he rushed straight on to the enemy guns. He fell, riddled with bullets. Major Mahon and Captain Parry were killed. . . . The advance was at once continued under the direction of Captain. Coates. . . . Immediately in front of the 3rd Auckland was the large pill-box known as Otto farm. This was rushed with difficulty. Here fell Lieut. H. A. Milnes, principal of the Auckland Training College, a man who has left his mark on New Zealand. ... . “One man lurches forward into a shell-hole, another falls with a cry, clutching at the breast of his tunic ; another stumbles to one side and gazes stupidly at a spreading fed stain. . . . Sometimes quarter is given ; at other times there is only the shriek of agony as the bayonet goes home.” “All night long the attackers had lain miserably in the drizzling rain, heavily shelled, cold and sleepless. . . . The battle was won. It had been a clean-sweeping success, and the enemy was for the time being utterly broken. “Considering the magnitude of the success, the losses had not been heavy. They were : Killed, 13 officers and 124 other' ranks ; wounded, 23 officers and 474 other ranks ; missing, 75 other ranks. Total, 709.” Orders Issued. Battalion orders of the 2nd battalion Auckland Regiment, and the report of operations carried out by the Ist N.Z. Infantry Brigade, both issued at the time, and now in the possession of this journal, make interesting reading. Battalion orders, signed by Lieut, (now Major) E. A. Porritt as acting adjutant, and dated October 3, give preparatory particulars of the proposed offensive. No. 2 order states : “At zero hour on S day we are attacking the enemy and intend to establish ourselves on the following objectives.” “Intend,” what a world of meaning in one word ! No “we will endeavour to,” but “intend.” Those representa-, tives of New Zealand had no doubts about it—they would conquer. No, 9 order reads : “Bayonets will be fixed just before zero.” Details of Operations.

In the report of operations under October 3 it is laconically stated by the General Officer commanding the N.Z. Infantry Brigade : . . . . “and laid out tape lines forward to guide their advance.” Only 10 words, but 10 words representing one of the most perilous things in modern war. The tape-layers” on October 3 were Lieut. E. A. Porritt and Lieut. Coates, nephew of the Hon. J. G. Coates. October 4, 6 a.m. “At this hour the brigade grenade officer loaded up 12 mules and the battalion carrying parties with ammunition. Mules were unable to cross the Hanebeek owing to their getting bogged. One mule was drowned.”

“8.10 a.m.—A heavy hostile machine gun barrage was met with on the Kopek-Boetleer spur and caused con-

siderable casualties. 2nd Auckland lost all their senior officers and Lieut. E. A. Porritt assumed command of the battalion.” For his conduct in this action Lieut. Porritt was awarded the Military Cross.

“Special Points of Interest.—The enemy had established himself on two general lines of shell-holes, and must have been holding these lines very strongly, as they were found full of dead, one to four in each hole. None of the dead had bayonets fixed. “Enemy Casualties. —These must have been very heavy. It is estimated that at least 800 dead bodies were lying in the area traversed. In addition 833 prisoners and 32 machine-guns were taken. “In conclusion, I cannot express myself too highly of the work of all ranks. Their dash and elan were magnificent. Messages Received. October 4—2.30 a.m. : Forward battalions. 6.45 a.m. : 2nd Wellington report all companies over Hancbeek and through barrage—great number of prisoners coming in. 7.10 a.m. : Ist Auckland report numerous casualties. 8.15 a.m. : 4th Brigade report Red Line captured. 1/M. G. Co. report their sections on Red Line. 8.40 a.m. : Men digging in on Red Line.

9.15 a.m. : Prisoners captured 333. 10 a.m. : Ist Auckland report in touch with 143rd Brigade, and that his troops captured Albatross farm. (This message had been sent much earlier by pigeon, but Brigade H.Q. were not informed.) 10.45 a.m. : Liaison Officer with 143rd Brigade reports that N.Z. troops have taken (name'too indistinct) at 9.11 a.m.

11 a.m. : My brigade-major (Major Thoms) went forward to make a personal recorfnaissance, but was unfortunately wounded near Kronprinz. 11.10 a.m. : R.F.C. report about 2500 enemy collecting east of Moorsledge and being dealt with. Weather forecast received. 2nd Auckland report Blue Line captured. Lieut.-Col. Allen and all senior officers casualties. Battalion commanded by Lieut. E. A. Porritt. 12.2 p.m. : Counter-attack reported. 1.24 p.m. : 2nd Auckland report enemy counter-attack successfully broken by our artillery. 4.55 p.m. : Advanced Brigade H.Q. report approximately 300 enemy adadvancing from shell-hole to shell-hole in front of Peter Pan. Artillery informed and successfully dealt with it. October 5—1.30 • a.m. : Situation quiet on whole front. 10.30 p.m. 2nd Auckland report relief complete and moving to old British and German front line. October 6—4 p.m. : 2nd Auckland and Wellington relieved in old British and German front lines and moved to Ypres north area. Paeroa’s Dead.

Amongst those killed were Captain Parry, Captain A. C. Hubbard, M.C., Sergeant L. Brenan, Private A. Gillman, Private Kemp, Private C. W. Nield, and Private F. Poland, of Paeroa. The Veterans. Amongst the officers mentioned, Colonel S. S. Allen is now Administrator' of Samoa ; Captain J. G. Coates is the late Prime Minister ; Captain G. Dittmer, M.C., is officer commanding No. 2 Regimental District, Paeroa; and Lieutenant E. A. Porritt, M.C., is now Major, and second in command of the Hauraki Regiment.