In the first week of April the VII. Corps was relieved on the Somme by the Australian Corps, and certain changes in the distribution of forces northward followed. The V. Corps extending their left took over 1200 yards of the New Zealand sector. On 12th/13th April the 4th Australian Brigade included in their area another 500 yards of the high ground about the Hébuterne road. The 2 New Zealand infantry brigades, therefore, in the line now held a frontage of a little over 4000 yards. On the 25th, however, the Australians were withdrawn, and the Division side-stepped northwards, occupying now a somewhat longer front from One Tree Hill to the east of Hébuterne. On their left the centre of the Corps front was held by the 42nd, and the left sector by the 37th Division.
In front of Hébuterne the depth of our defences was limited to a quarter of a mile between the front line and the support system which ran through the centre of the village. With a view to improvement, a company{183} of 1st Wellington on 4th May undertook an operation astride the road to Puisieux-au-Mont in conjunction with troops of the 42nd Division on the left. 16 medium and 8 light trench mortars together with machine guns gave immediate support to the attack, and the Corps heavies bombarded the rear areas and carried out counter-battery work. For 3 days previously ostentatious registration had been carried out by 8-in. howitzers on selected targets in Rossignol Wood and at La Signy Farm, and a considerable number of casualties had been reported by prisoners. At the moment of attack, very effective diversions were provided by 2 brigades of field artillery. The feint at La Signy Farm achieved its purpose, and on that "tender" locality practically all the enemy barrage fell. The infantry enterprise was only partially successful, owing to a lack of co-operation between the attacking troops of the 2 Divisions and to enemy machine gun fire. As Wellington neared their objective, Cpl. A. Bradley was severely wounded, a bomb blowing his foot off. Repressing any indication of pain, he urged his men forward, and refused to be assisted to our trenches. As he crawled back with his rifle, he encountered 2 Germans attempting to return to their lines and shot them. The majority of the Wellington party reached the final objective and captured 10 prisoners. Exposed, however, to enfilade machine gun fire from both flanks as well as to showers of bombs, they were in an untenable position, and after losing 5 men killed and 18 wounded, 2 of whom died, the company was compelled shortly after midnight to withdraw to an intermediate trench about 200 yards in front of our old positions. The result, though falling short of expectations, shortened our line and added further depth to the Hébuterne defences.
Against the anticipated renewal of the German offensive, nothing was now left to chance. For miles in selected rear positions, battalions of labour troops and Chinese dug line after line of splendidly sited and wired trenches, and in all the forward areas the most careful arrangements were made for defence and counter-attack dispositions, for signal communications, for the construction of shell-proof headquarters, machine gun emplacements and advanced dressing stations, for the digging of tank-traps at selected points on the roads, and for artillery action to deal with enemy tanks or infantry effecting a breach. Certain areas were laid down well forward in which silent batteries were placed with the object of escaping enemy counter-battery work and engaging attacking infantry at close range. The rest of our field artillery were drawn well back, and gunners felt the need of technical devices to give increased range. The 2nd (Army) Brigade came into the line on 21st May.{184} At that time the Divisional artillery was still extremely active, daily expending between 5000 and 10,000 rounds, but at the end of May, after the launching of the German offensive in the south. This high rate of consumption was reduced to 3500. The mortars, however, including the 6-in. Newtons, all close up behind the front lines, maintained their steady bombardment of enemy Strong Points and machine gun positions with great effect. A favourite pastime was to ferret an enemy party out of a Strong Point or dugout with trench mortar bombs, and then, as they dispersed, to shoot them down with rifle or machine gun fire.
After his check in April the enemy's artillery activity had rapidly slackened and, except for periodical perfectly timed and intensely heavy "shell-storms," became indeed abnormally quiet. Only in the 2 days preceding his Aisne offensive did he seek to create a diversion all along the Third Army front by violent counter-battery work, heavy bombardment of trenches, active shelling of rear areas with high-velocity guns, and by gas concentrations on villages. Very light casualties were inflicted in the New Zealand sector. Nor were his infantry more aggressive. His patrols were rarely seen in No Man's Land, and a few attempted raids were repulsed, the dead being left before our trenches. An especially determined raid of over 60 men in 4 parties, preceded by a hurricane bombardment, was made against the, 1st Rifles near La Signy Farm on 2nd May. It was a complete and costly failure, thanks largely to the leadership of Sergt. R. McMurray, whose conduct won him a bar to his D.C.M. The enemy secured a solitary success near One Tree Hill on 7th May, capturing in a silent raid a Lewis gun and 5 riflemen from an advanced post in front of our line.
Two other successes were due, not to action against our lines, but to an excess of venturesomeness on the part of our own patrols. On 26th April, at 1 a.m., 2nd Lt. J. T. Thomas, led a patrol of six 2nd Wellington men into German positions north of La Signy Farm. Thomas was a conspicuously dashing and bold officer, and his party penetrated deep into the enemy country. The sound of distant rifle fire and bombing reached the Wellington sentries in the front line, and it was clear that something was amiss. Further patrols were sent out then and later without avail. It transpired afterwards that Thomas' party was surrounded by a strong body of enemy. Five of his men were wounded, and Thomas saved their lives by a reluctant but necessary surrender. On 21st May a 1st Wellington patrol attacked a strong enemy party in No Man's Land. The issue remained in favour of the Germans. The patrol secured a prisoner but lost an officer and a sergeant (killed) and a private (captured).
This unaggressive attitude of the enemy and a marked approximation to open warfare methods in a fluid and elastic disposition of front line garrisons lent themselves to vigorous and aggressive raids and patrol enterprises on our part. No Man's Land was a maze of old British and German trenches which afforded admirable cover, and in the exceptionally fine weather the ground was hard and dry. Many of these exploits were performed by our patrols, not at night, but in broad daylight, in full view of their delighted comrades and with a wholesome effect on the morale of recently joined reinforcements. Not infrequently a German sentry or two were kidnapped without a struggle, asleep or writing letters, delousing themselves, or at a peaceful meal, and there was nothing to show their commander the reason of their disappearance. More often some had to be killed, or the raiders had to fight. But our continual aggressiveness and the repeated instances of the destruction or total disappearance of the German sentry posts must have called for disagreeable explanations on the part of company commanders opposite. For these minor patrol enterprises were almost invariably successful and were usually carried out without loss to our parties. Their surprising immunity was due partly to their own skill and dash, partly to waning enemy morale. As a result, prisoners and identifications were obtained in a steady stream 3 or 4 times a week. Battalions vied in bold adventures. A few instances may be quoted.
1st Auckland with artillery and trench mortar bombardment raided south of the Serre road on the sultry afternoon of 15th May and secured a machine gun and 2 prisoners. Three days later, north of La Signy Farm, a 1st Otago party under Sergt. P. McGregor, frustrated by wire in their original project, moved to a flank and penetrated 750 yards from our line into German territory. Waiting till the enemy should have had breakfast and relaxed vigilance, they then selected a small shelter, lifted up the waterproof sheet that protected its interior from rain or sun, and collected 4 sleeping Germans, whom they brought back in full daylight. In the early hours of 20th May a 3rd Rifles' party under 2nd Lt. M. Macdonald, after a first check from machine gun fire, immediately afterwards very gallantly attacked for the second time a machine gun post east of Hébuterne occupied by a garrison of 30 men and 2 machine guns. Losing 4 men wounded, they killed 7, captured 3, drove the rest to flight and brought in the machine guns. On the next day another patrol of the same battalion under Sergt. W. Meteven, M.M., captured 2 prisoners, and the 4th Rifles did the same. On 24th May Meteven with 2 comrades crossed No Man's Land, again in broad daylight, and entered an enemy post 500 yards from our line. Of the 2 occupants 1 was shot, and the other taken prisoner. On the shot being fired, some 20 Germans in a trench 30 yards away were alarmed and rushed our patrol. Meteven bade his men withdraw and seeing that it was impossible to get his prisoner with him, shot him. He then threw 2 bombs among the advancing enemy and emptied his revolver at short range into them, inflicting several casualties and securing his own withdrawal. In the beginning of June a small 2nd Otago{185} party under Sergt. J. Scott took 5 prisoners some 500 yards from our front line and brought them safely in.
But by common consent the palm in these freebooting forays was awarded to the trained “gang”{186} of Sergt. R. C. Travis, of 2nd Otago. Two of their exploits in May may be recorded. Their battalion happened to be out of the line, but hearing that identifications were urgently wanted in connection with an expected enemy attack, Travis at once volunteered to obtain them. His party left our lines east of Hébuterne on 14th May, a little after 7 p.m., in broad daylight. Working down a sap and making skilful use of ground, they reached unobserved a suspected enemy post. The post was rushed, and the garrison completely surprised. The officer in command showed fight and had to be shot. His 6 men were taken prisoners. The commotion in the post roused the occupants of a neighbouring trench who hurried to their comrades' assistance. Travis covered our withdrawal with the utmost coolness and dexterity, emptying his revolver at the infuriated enemy. Their excitement did not make for steady marksmanship, and 2 of the prisoners were shot. The other 4 were brought in safely to give important information.
On the last day of the month, north of La Signy Farm, Travis used much the same methods. With 2 of his men he crawled along an old sap towards an enemy post and reached within 25 yards of his objective. Here, cautiously raising a periscope, the little party could see 2 men watching our lines from the post. The question of approaching them was difficult, for the trench was filled breast-high with wire.
Under the very noses of the unsuspecting enemy the 3 scouts wormed themselves out of the sap and crawled through the grass to within 10 yards of the sentries. Then with one accord they sprang to their feet and rushed them. The sentries were overpowered at once and surrendered. Close by was a dugout. It was investigated and found to contain 9 Germans, one of whom was an officer. In a scuffle 3 were shot and 3, including the officer, taken prisoner, but the rest escaped. Travis and his men hustled their captives off over No Man's Land before reinforcements could arrive. They were just in time. The German garrison was heard padding along the hard dry trench, and their fire forced captors and captives into the sap. Taking advantage of this movement, one of the prisoners darted back, but was wounded or killed by covering fire from our trench. The officer and the other man were brought in without loss. Half an hour later the Otago Lewis guns got further targets in a small enemy party headed by 2 officers who, revolvers in hand, were seen to re-enter the raided post.
On 7th June the Division was relieved by the 42nd Division. The artillery remained in the line. Divisional Headquarters moved to Pas-en-Artois and later to Authie. The infantry brigade groups occupied tents or were billeted in villages. One brigade in turn garrisoned the Purple Line.{187} The 3 weeks' period in reserve was favoured by dry sunny weather. The country side, unlike the undulating featureless terrain on the edge of the Somme battlefield at La Signy and Hébuterne, offered a richly picturesque landscape of deep valleys, green woods and clean prosperous villages. The wheat crop had not yet ripened, but rich fields of rye and clover extended on every side; and in the forward areas east of the Purple Line the spring work of the farmers was not lost, for the Division cut the crops for them and carted them back in military wagons.
The epidemic known popularly as Spanish Influenza, then ravaging Europe and the contending armies, had but a passing, if temporarily serious, effect on the general health of the troops. The Brigade Horse Shows, which had been held by the brigades when in reserve, were now succeeded by a Divisional Horse Show, and by Divisional Tournaments, Boxing Competitions and Band Contests. A final visit was paid at this time by the Prime Minister of New Zealand, attended by Sir Joseph Ward. The proportion of hardy experienced soldiers now in the ranks was very considerable, and the hours devoted to military exercises could be appreciably reduced. The policy of training was still largely based on the tactics of an active defence, and just as the infantry brigades in Divisional reserve had practised the launching of a counter-attack from the Purple System, so similar schemes were now executed from the reserve Corps system (the Red Line.) There was, however, growing evidence of a conviction, emanating from the High Command and permeating down to all formations, that the anxious period, during which the Allies' main concern was the preservation of an unbroken line, was, if not actually over, rapidly passing. There was already an eager anticipation of the time when reinforcements and America's Armies would produce a numerical equality and restore the initiative. The training in "open warfare" attack and in the close co-operation between battalions and mobile batteries or sections of batteries, temporarily withdrawn for the purpose from the Purple Line, was no less important than novel, and was to prove incalculably valuable sooner than the participants yet realised.
The more important changes of appointments made since the beginning of the year and not noticed previously may be here reviewed. Lt.-Col. H. G. Reid, D.S.O., after rendering admirably efficient service to the Division since its formation, rejoined the British Army. He was succeeded by Major (now Lt.-Col) Avery, whose appointment as D.A.Q.M.G. was filled by Capt A. S. Muir. Shortly afterwards Lt. (Temporary Major) C. I. Gossage was appointed D.A.D.O.S. vice Lt.-Col. Herbert, who received promotion in a British Corps. In the artillery Lt.-Col. Symon went in June for his turn of duty to command the N.Z.F.A. Depot in England and was succeeded in command of the 1st Brigade by Lt.-Col. Standish, whom he replaced in the English appointment. An anticipatory reference may be made to Major Richmond's taking command of the 9th Battery in August. In the appointment of Brigade Major he was then succeeded by Major R. Miles, D.S.O., M.C. Lt.-Col. Cook died in England on 2nd May and was succeeded in command of 1st Wellington by Lt.-Col. H. Holderness. His brother, Capt. H. Holderness, was appointed in April Staff Captain of the 1st Brigade vice Capt. H. Chisholm, who had vacated the appointment through sickness. Major Skelley, wounded in May and later succumbing to his injuries, was succeeded as Brigade Major in the Rifle Brigade by Major Bremner, whose appointment as G. S. O. 3 was filled by Capt. O. Opie, R.N.Z.A. Lt.-Col. Mead, Canterbury Regiment, assumed command of the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, vice Lt.-Col. Griffiths, who succeeded Lt.-Col. J. A. Mackenzie in control of the N.Z. Command Depot, the latter taking command of the N.Z. Base Depot, which Lt.-Col. Mitchell had relinquished in March. On Lt.-Col. Roache's being invalided in May to New Zealand Lt.-Col. Puttick succeeded to the command of the 5th (Reserve) Battalion, Rifle Brigade.
The Division went into the line again at the beginning of July in the centre of the Corps front. The command of the sector passed from the 57th Division on 2nd July. Headquarters were transferred from Authie to Couin. The front was covered by the 1st and 3rd and the 2nd (Army) Artillery Brigades. The Machine Gun Battalion had 3 companies disposed in definite positions in the line with 1 company in mobile reserve. To the north the 37th Division faced Bucquoy. The former New Zealand sector in front of La Signy Farm was occupied by the 42nd Division. The 57th and 62nd{188} Divisions were now in Corps reserve.
The new Divisional sector ran southwards from the southeast tip of Biez Wood, which lay south-west of Bucquoy, along the north of Rossignol Wood to east of Hébuterne. A mile northwards from Hébuterne were the shattered remains of the village of Gommecourt, whose defences had broken the subsidiary British attack of 1st July 1916, and which was occupied by us on 27th February 1917 in the preliminary stages of the German retreat. Now, owing to the trend of our line to the north-east, it lay at a greater distance from our outposts than Hébuterne itself. Both villages stood on high ground, and from their ridges one could overlook the wastes of the Somme battlefield as far as Flers of 1916 memory, some 8 miles to the east, and see the smoke of distant German trains in whose windows, on a bright afternoon, the western sun's rays were brilliantly reflected., The Gommecourt ridge, on whose forward slopes lay the Park and the wood surrounding the village, was a particularly important tactical feature. Its possession was essential for the safety of the New Zealanders and the Division on their left, and it formed a pivot on which counterattacks must hinge. It was accordingly formidably protected. The ground was everywhere covered with rusty wire and pitted with old shellholes, overgrown with thistles. In the network of German lines about Gommecourt were many admirable deep dugouts.