BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 249, 19 September 1929, Page 10

BATTLE OF THE SOMME.

LAPSE OF THIRTEEN YEARS. NEW ZEALANDERS IN ACTION. An important wartime • anniversary for New Zealand fell last Sunday, for it marked the lapse of 13 years since the New Zealand Division made its entry into the Battle of the Somme. It was the first important action for the New Zealanders on the Somme front. An eye-witness, describing the action at the time, said the first wave consisted of men from Otago and Auckland. They stepped over the parapets fearlessly in spite of a hurricane bombardment and the incessant rain of machine-gun bullets. British regiments co-operated on the riglrt and tanks, in use for the first time, gave most valuable support and made a profound impression on the Germans. After gaining their objectives the New Zealanders were subjected to particularly heavy counter-attacks, but they stood their ground, punished the enemy severely and even made progress. Earl Haig paid an immediate tribute to the part the New Zealand. Division had played in tire British successes at Fieri, Martinpuich and Courcelette. Sir Phillip Gibbs, describing the action, said that there had been nothing fiercer or more sanguinary than the hand-to-hand struggles on the left of Flers, where the New Zealanders increased the fame they had already won at Gallipoli. They endured the heaviest shell-fire, and swept back the Germans,, panic-stricken. They crossed no-mams land, went over the German trenches, and out into the blue mists of the morning in pursuit of the retreating .enemy. They eventually penetrated the German lines to a depth of about 3000yds. The number of killed . and wounded New Zealanders in the engagement was 460. The New Zealand artillery remained in action for three weeks before being relieved. ■ .