THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5325, 11 February 1947, Page 7

THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME

The Battle of the Somme started on July 1, 1916, just over 30 years ago. It was one of the greatest battles fought in France during the 1914-1918 war. The 1st N.Z.E.F! was at that time in the, Armentieres salient. Following are some extracts from the diary of an old Digger now in the ServieeS Convalescent Hospital, who, during that battle, was a driver for an artillery battery.

His story opens on Sunday, Septem- | ber 3 : "Here we are, ^practic.ally on the edge of the battlefield and well within earshot of the artillery. It has heen an interesting sort of day; gave one a lot to think about. "Church parade this morning. The service was going along nicely, the Padre not forgetting to tell us what we were going into. "In the niiddle of a hymn ("Nearer My God to. Thee") a terrific bombardment opened up. Though practically 10 miles away we could hardly hear the Padre for the roar of the guns. The bombardment 'kept up for the rest of the day. "This evening a few of us were over in Corbie. We were told that Guillemont had ben •captured during the day. Hundreds of 'battle casualties were coming in. They appeared to be in good spirits — no doubt getting out of what we heard to-day. "Monday, S-eptemher 4: "Usual routine. !No one has a great deal to say, but I think we are all thinking a helluva lot. "Tuesday, September 5.: Everybody seems to be on a "qui vive" for tomorrow we enter the Battle of the Somme. "Wiednesday, September 6: Here we are, out under the blue. Everyone has to fend for himself — that is, as far as making a hiwy for himself. Reveille was at 3 a.m. We moved out at 6 a.m. "The Stooping Lady." "Our route took us through the town of Al'bert. There was plenty of evidence that Fritz haid taken a dislike to the place. The church, Notre Dame, had a gilt Virgin hanging head downward from the tower; as a matter of fact it appeared to be overhanging the street. This Virgin is better known as the "Stooping Lady of Alhert." We passed quite a few German prisoners who were at work on the roads. "The nearer we got to our destina.tion, the traffic increased. There seemed to be endless lines of -lorries, limbers, vehicles of all shapes and sizes, troops on the march, and at times the going was very slow. The military 1 police appeared to. have a cow of a time trying to control the traffic. "We took the guns into action this afternoon. The waggon lines are quite near the old British front line trenches. The nearest village is Becourt Becordel, which is in badly need of repairs, its inhabitants having deserted many moons ago. My "home de luxe" is made of a few empty ammunition cases with my oil-sheet for a roof. "Thursday, September 7 : Reveille 3 a.m.; a cup of tea and off we went with ammunition for the guns which are ahout four miles away; the gun position being ahout 100 yards from Longueval. There is a leading valley going up to the guns which will allow us to do the trip in daylight. "Friday, September 8: Reveille 3 a.m. The amunatyiition return takee about five hours, traffic jams heing the chief delay. Gn our return we had breakfast, then filled the ammunition limbers at the dump. 1 p.m. we left again with ammo; returned 6 p.m. We are now putting in about 16 hours a day. Gas Attack. ^ "Saturday, September 9: We only had one trip to-day. The valley which leads up to the guns is called Caterpillar Valley. Why, nobody seems to know. "Sunday, September 10: I had a new job to-day ;.'I was detailed to act as battery guide with some G.S. (General Service) waggons from the divisional ammunition column. "As we were drawing into Caterpiller Valley a gas shell hurst a few yards ahead 0f us. There was a fair ; wind and the gas soon dispersed. "Monday, September 11: By cripes, we are eaming our five bob a day and the horses are earning their feed— at this rate they'll want a bigger ration of oats. "Up near the guns is a grave; a rifle with the hayonet driven into the ground forms the upright on which hangs a steel helmet with a piece of box wood to form the cross. The inscription reads thus 'Here lies an un'known British soldier.' Poor beggar! B'uried where he had fallen. '■'The battlefield had been fairly well cleaned up of human remains hefore our arrival. "Tuesday, September 12: Qn our second ammo trip just as we were drawing into Caterpillar Valley (as a matter of fact about the same spot where the gas shell .hurst on Sunday) a high explosive shell burst just ahead of us. But, oh, hell, what a mess!! "A direct on a beautiful team of .six greys, drivers and horses. • 'Exit' the lot. Had Fritz delayed firing thfe shell another minufe or ,so, then the 14th BatteUy. N.Z(.F/.A. woiuj^d h-afve been minus a beautiful team of hlacks plus another three drivers. The foitunes of war. Infantry Arrives. Wednesday, September 13: Fritz made a damn nuisance of himself last

night. One of our guns was blown out. We went up for it early this morning. "Our infantry came in to-day. They have bivouacked just near our transport . lines. "This evening I went over to see a few of the Hastings and Hawke's Bay men — Bert Honnor, Horace BrookeTaylor and Jasper Greene. Though a hit older than I, we went to the same school. They were in great spirits, one remarked that he would be in Blighty (England) within a week, wounded.