UNKNOWN

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 12 April 1917, Page 6

UNKNOWN

A RACE FOR LIFE. CHARGE THROUGH TORNADO OF SHELL FIRE. Th e men of the Black Country! There are no better fighters, this is the tribute paid by a distinguished officer.

“The men of the Black Country make fine soldiers,” he writes. “I have had them under my command part or the time of the Somme and always under observation 1 since the first day when the men of the Territorial and New Army came out there to aid us. I could not ask for better soldiers.

“Four times I have seen the North Staffords attack strong enemy positions in face of great, odds. Six times I have seen them withstand fierce enemy counter-attacks preceded by furious bombardments and delivered by picked and fresh troops. On once occasion the North Staffords had to take a line of trenches held by an enemy force thre e times stronger. They took it, and killed or captured every man of the defenders.

“On another occasion the South Staffords were given the task of preparing the way for one of our big attacks by minng under the enemy’s chief position. Most of the men came from mining and quarrying districts. They dug and delved night and day. ,The mine was the largest we had yet attempted in that area. The men took pride in their work, and all were astir early to await the going off of the fireworks. There was a series of terrific explosions that told of ammunition destroyed. Then the clouds of wreckage subsided. “The whole of the enemy trenches were blotted out and the ground had the appearanre of having been ploughed over for weeks. As soon as their handiwork had done' what was expected of it, the Staffordshire lads were off like a shot towards the wrecked trenches. All the defenders had been buried in the ruins, but the enemy were hurrying up new troops to seize the crater.

“It was a race between them and South Staffords for the honour of reaching the wrecked trenches first. The Germans had the start. They had also the advantage of being immune from shell fire, whereas the South Staffords had to race through a tornado of shell fire. The Black Country men won. They seized the wrecked trenches and held them against repeated attacks until our line was thoroughly established. “On one occasion the enemy succeeded in cutting off a party of South Staffords numbering about seventy. The Black Country men were called on to surrender, but they sought refuge in a group of shell holes and held on. Two days and two nights they -were assailed with fury. Communication with their comrades was entirely suspended, and the Staffordshire lads were isolated. SHll they held their ground, repulsing all attacks, and finally were relieved by our

advancing line.”