BREAK THROUGH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 163, 13 July 1942, Page 4

BREAK THROUGH

N.Z. TROOPS' CHARGE

BAYONETS WIDELY USED (N.Z.E.F. Official News Service). CAIRO, July 10. Two devastating New Zealand bayonet charges were to-day described by men who took part as probably the most exciting hand-to-hand fighting in which New Zealand troops have yet been engaged in this war. Describing the New Zealanders' celebrated break through the German armoured ring south of Mersa Matruh, one man said that late on June 27 word was passed around that the New Zealanders were to smash a way through the German ring with the bayonet. Under the clear light of the moon, the New Zealanders moved off at 2.30 in the morning. A long line of men marched steadily and purposely forward with bayonets fixed. It was followed a short distance behind by another line, then another, then many more. Presently the advancing men reached the edge of a wide shallow wadi, across the bottom of which were the dark shapes of dispersed enemy transport. The enemy camp was silent, asleep. As they moved in, the New Zealanders broke into a run.

From somewhere in the attacking force came a single rifle shot. It was the signal for pandemonium. From the high ground on both flanks of the Wellington Battalion, German machine-gunners opened a fierce crossfire. Into it and through it the Wellington men charged, firing as they ran.

Little groups of Germans, bewildered and half asleep, leaped from the backs of trucks. Then the fierce battle begun by the Maoris was taken up by the whole of the New Zealand attacking force. A great sheet of flame shot toward the sky from a German petrol truck, showing black the figures of the attackers against the glare. Mortar bombs busting among the transport as often as not killed Germans rather than the attackers.

Like screaming balls of fire came anti-tank shells. A score or more individual duels developed, but the New Zealanders pushed on relentlessly. Grenades were thrown into the backs of German vehicles. As later waves of attacking New Zealanders passed through, they found the ground dotted with German dead. At the head of the Wellington Battalion's attack was their colonel, who himself used a rifle and bayonet.