A DARING EFFORT.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 June 1918, Page 5

A DARING EFFORT.

TAKING A GERMAN TRENCH. - NEW ZEALAND OFFICER'S 6TORY. I officer of the New Zealand Rifle* Brigade, recently awarded the MUitarv ■Cross for gallantry at the front, gives [ some account of his work in a letter to | Colonel Potter, C.M.G., Commandant at I Trentham Camp. | "This paper is enemy stuff " he I writes "I got hold of it i„ a trench Imy platoon took one night. As you | know the character of this scrap has changed completely. No comfortable dug-outs, duck-boards, etc. The trenches have mad up to the calves of a man's leg and it is the devil's own job getting about them. I was in one where we had to stand to all night, forty yards from Fritz, for three successive nights. The 30th and 31st ReinfoWeinentg, as far as the Rifle Brigade is concerned, have turned out trumps. At one time, when our company was a support one, my platoon was lent to another battalion. We had to do a night stunt for them and met with most extraordinary luck. For about 800 yards the lino was back a bit and Wanted bringing forward to line up with the left fend right. IVxta! occupied the intervening space. I came over about midnight with a platoon 30 strong, and managed to get 350 yards, to the enemy tranches, where I struck the intersection of five enemy trenches Without knowing it, I struck oflfl of their main trenches. I saw some of the German hopping out on my left, so stuck the Lewis gun on the bank and put enfilading fire over, also rapid fire with the rifles. They ran in scores. I sent for another platoon, because 300 yards was far too much to hold with 30 men. Our enfilading fire compelled the evaluation of the remaining portion of the trench, so w<s seoUred the half mile required. "Next morning a company came along on our left to occupy the trench. It was about seven in the Morning and the men were still willing. So I hopped round the corner with the Lewis gun, and three men, three bombers, aild thfe# riflemen. We started enfilading up this trench, going about 300 yards, covering the advance of the company mentioned. We h«d quite a picnie that Sunday morning. About 20 yards from where I put in the block the major had his bivvy, and from him and his quarters we were lucky enough to get maps showing their front and gun positions. "We found a great supply of cigarettes, cigars, cocoa, etc., which tli6v had taken from the Tommy iftnteptts in the retreat. You would have laughed to see my boys smoking Cigars in the trench. "Of all the camps I have strtick, I quite agree with others of us that good old Trentham is the best rufl of the lot. You have only to get round a bit to, realise that."