CAUGHI IN A DEATH TRAP.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 174, 22 July 1916, Page 5

CAUGHI IN A DEATH TRAP.

LONDON REGIMENT CUT OFF BY BARRAGE OF FIRE, REGIMENTS CUT TO PIECES BY HIGH EXPLOSIVES, HEROIC RESISTANCE AGAINST FRIGHTFUL ODDS. J, , (Received 8.50 a.m.) LONDON, July 21. Mr. Philip Gibbs states that in the offensive the Territorials proved great soldiers both in attack and resistance. The Queen's Westminsters, Queen Victoria's Rifles, London Rifle Brigade Rangers, and London Scottish, advancing on Gommecourt, readied the German lines and captured a network of trenches with amazing speed. Then the enemy put a barrage of high explosives through which no living thing could pass, and the Londoners were caught in a death trap and escape was cut off. The barrage smashed our communication trenches, preventing supports reaching the men in the captured salient. Their comrades desperately attempted to send ammunition, and one party of sixty with hand grenades set out, but only three returned. The enemy organised a series of counter-attacks. Some enemy parties approached the Londoners from the northern position, whence the enemy enfiladed our troops on the right holding the redoubt buildings and barricades. Ammunition grew scarce and fche bombs were almost exhausted. The Londoners gathered German bombs, but the position became uglier. The men never lost heart. An officer rallied six good men and ordered the others to retreat with the wounded and take their chance across "No Mane Land" while he put up a last fight. He stuck to the barricade until all but two were killed, and lie was the last to leave Gradually the Londoners withdrew under great shell fire. Many of the wounded remained on the field suffering great anguish for days. One officer wounded in the leg crawled about the field for twelve days before being rescued.