LEFT THE LINE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXV, Issue 10314, 25 January 1927, Page 8

LEFT THE LINE

DIGGERS IN FRANCE. . COURT MARTIAL ECHO. Efforts which are now being made by a number of returned, soldiers to secure recognition of their claims foi the war gratuity open up. a chapter of A.I.F. history of which little or nothing has been heard by the general public. , During the closing stages of the war, when the Allied troops were battering down the last stand of the Germans on. the Hindenburg line, about 150 members of one A.I.F. battalion left the line. The result was that they were court-martialled for desertion. Many were acquitted. Others were convicted and sentenced to terms ranging from two years to seven years’ imprisonment. . The trouble in the battalion arose through an impression that an un-called-for duty had been imposed on the Diggers—that their line had been lengthened to take over a part which was the responsibility of other troops. This was a mistaken impression, as all the troops along. the sector had been allotted a definite task in the general attack. ff • There were other factors which made the Diggers disgruntled. After their previous stunt, eminently successful, and after holding their new line for several days, they bargained on being given, a spell before they were ordered into a further attack on the enemy. Certainly they had suffered casualties. Not only had officers: and men. been lost in .the attack, hut casualties had increased from the holding of the- line, .In one company all the officers were casualties.

BOOKED FOR SECOND STUNT. Instead of being relieved, as the men had expected, the battalion found it was booked for another attack. Though it was to have Keen one of minor character, rumors, which the officers did all they could to suppress, spread, until the impending operation was exaggerated into one of great magnitude. . . Instead cf listening to their officers, the men, inflamed by the feeling that injustice had been done to them, became prey for those, of unruly mind. If casualties had not . robbed the battalion of many of its officers the men wou’d have been more tractable. But, as in one company, with no officers of their own to counsel the men, the desertion was en masse. Only one man remained on duty. Strikers from the. various companies formed up in perfect order, and carrying their equipment, marched to the real-, where ultimately they were placed under arrest. At the court-martial ‘he evidence revealed that many had acted with no unlawful intent. - They yust left the line to “be in with their mates.” Others, it, was asserted, had been duped. Those held blameworthy of having encouraged the desertions were sentenced. Many of the Diggers tried before the military court had most meritorious records. It is for these men that- efforts are now. being made to induce the gratuity board to hear appeals for the granting of the war gratuity.