"ENEMY" LANDING

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 78, 28 September 1940, Page 13

"ENEMY" LANDING

BATTLE AT WANGANUI

WELLINGTON REGIMENT

END OF TRAINING

In the early hours of yesterday morning the Ist Battalion, Wellington Regiment (City of Wellington's Own) turned out from its camp at the Wanganui racecourse to attack an "enemy" force that was reported to have landed on the beach near the aerodrome on the south side of the Wanganui River mouth. This was the last of a series of tactical exercises carried out during the past few days and designed to give all ranks practical experience of the kind of work the battalion may have to do if ever it is called upon to play its war role as a fortress battalion for the defence of Wellington. The 11th (Wanganui) Company of the National Military Reserve co-operated "with the battalion in yesterday's exercise, first of all by endeavouring to hold up the enemy until the arrival of the Territorials and later by acting as the landed enemy forces. The exercise was watched by MajorGeneral Sir Andrew Russell, X.C.8., K.C.M.G., Inspector-General of the New Zealand Military Forces, and Colonel R. A. Row, D.5.0., Officer Commanding the Central Military District. Nine umpires, including two officers from Central Military District Headquarters, Wellington, observed all phases of the operation and reported later to a conference of officers held at the conclusion of the manoeuvre. For the purpose of the exercise it was presumed that the war had spread to the southern Pacific and that an enemy fleet was moving south towards New Zealand. Fortress troops were deemed to be at battle stations and the Field Force to be in process of concentration at Trentham. The Ist Wellington Battalion was in camp waiting orders to move at one hour's notice from 11.59 p.m. on Thursday night. NATIONAL RESERVE'S PART. The position leading up to the subsequent dawn engagement was set out as follows in the "narrative" prepared for the exercise:— "On the night September 26-27 an enemy force approaches the coast off south beach. At 0300 hours on September 27 a landing is successfully made, and beach defences between the Kaitoke Stream and Wanganui River are driven back. At 0330 hours the commander of the National Reserve Company at the airport informs the CO. of the Ist Wellington Battalion of the situation by telephone. He reports that as far as he can judge, at least a company of the enemy have landed already, and more are in the process of leaving boats. The darkness makes a true estimate of the position difficult, and he does not know what has happened to his beach defence platoons. "The enemy are in possession of the airport buildings and have gained a footing on the high ground at Landguard and immediately north of the airport. He has two platoons in positions astride the road between Rubbish Dump and Landguard, but doubts his ability to hold on for long in daylight. He lias Heard firing to "the left of his position and fears that parties of the enemy are penetrating past his left flank, although the firing would indicate that some of his people from the beach are opposing them. His headquarters is at the bend in the road about one mile east of Landguard. RESERVISTS' ALARM SYSTEM. Th: National Military Reserve Company, which is commanded by LieutenanV D, W. Curham, M.C., took advantage of its participation in the exercise to practise its alarm system designed to bring about rapid concentration of the company at its headquarters in the event of an emergency. Arrangements were made with the telephone exchange to call up reservists at their homes. Men not connected by telephone were called out by nearby reservist, to whom messages could be sent. The alarm was given shortly after 1 a.m. yesterday, and within an hour the reservists, some of whom live 16 miles from Wanganui, had all reported at the Wanganui Drill Hall. Hot coffee and pies were served before the Company moved off to the beach. The first intimation of what was afoot reached Battalion Headquarters at the racecourse camp at 1.47 a.m., when the Officer Commanding, Lieu-tenant-Colonel A. L. George, received the following. message from the Area Office, Wanganui: "Two enemy aircraft attacked wharves and bridges on the Wanganui River at 0140 hours. Main bridge damaged but still passable for motor transport. Other damage slight." Ten minutes later a second message arrived: "National Reserve Company reports two stationary lights about two miles due west of Castlecliff, 0145 hours. Lights exposed . one ■ minute then doused." At 3.5 a.m. the following urgent message was received: "Three enemy aircraft bombed bridges on Wanganui River. Main bridge iripassable to traffic. No report about Dublin Street bridge." Bugles sounded the general alarm in the camp at 3.15 a.m. when Lieu-tenant-Colonel George gave the order to stand to. The battalion quickly turned out of bed in the darkness donned battle dress, and after a hot drink and biscuits boarded motor transport to proceed to a rendezvous on the airport road. Before this the a£ti-aircraft section had been sent out £*£rf the Dublin Street bridge (now the only available route) and the «n> vov against enemy air attack. The movement orders for these, mitral •stages of the exercise were issued by Colonel George at a conference of company commanders called at battaTon headquarters with the sounding of the general alarm. MOTOR TRANSPORT AT NIGHT. The main body of th battalion was preceded to the area of operations by the motor-cycle platoon, which at once moved forward to make contact with the enemy and to carry out its normal duties as an advance guard. One ot th main objects of the exercise was to give the battalion practice m a move by motor transport during the hours of darkness. Conditions before daylight yesterday could not have been better from the training point of view. There was no moon and an overcast sky added to the blackness oi tnenight. No headlights ■or any other Tights were permitted to be shown. First came the 50 motor-cyclists and at a later stage the convoy of Army °The' crackle of rifle fire broke out about 4 a.m. when the Motor Cycle Platoon's scouts first made contact with the enemy on the high sandhills a short distance inland from the aerodrome. Meanwhile battalion headquarters had been establishes and having received intelligence of tne position of the enemy, LieutenantColonel George made his dispositions and issued the necessary orders verbally to company commanders. He

i decided that a flanking -movement would be the best means, of dislodging the enemy from the high ground and pushing him back to the sea. One company was sent forward to a frontal attack arid other companies, protected by machine-gun and mortar fire, were sent out on either flank. Meanwhile the various specialist sections were carrying out their part of the manoeuvre. The signallers provided telephone communication between battalion headquarters and the various company headquarters, and the intelligence section sent scoutc into no-man's land to gain all possible information. The anti-aircraft section constructed two sand-bagged fire pits complete with an entrance tunnel, and camouflaged their guns and position with lupins. The pioneer platoon established' a regimental aid post behind battalion headquarters,. " GENERAL ENGAGEMENT. j Shortly after the first glimmerings of daylight about 5 a.m. there was general action along the whole bat-, talion front. Attackers and enemy j pitted their stalking skill against each; other as they moved through the lupins, and one heard from time to time distant voices, "Hands up," "Got you," and so on, as men on both sides were ambushed. The umpires had power to decide which side had been successful in these minor skirmishes, and before long both attackers and enemy had bagged a number of prisoners. At 6.15 a.m. the "wash out" signal, which signified the end of the exercise, was given on Colonel Row's instructions. By this time the battalion attack was deemed to have successfully dislodged the enemy and driven them back to their boats. Breakfast was served in the field. It consisted of tea, porridge, bread and butter and jam which was brought out from the camp by rations lorries. The battalion later assembled on the airport road and was taken back to camp by motor transport. After breakfast Major-General Russell and Colonel Row discussed the exercise with the umpires and the officers of the battalion on the ground. The general watched the whole manoeuvre from the time when the first messages were received at battalion headquarters in the camp. This exercise completed the battalion's training syllabus at Wanganui and also its three months' continuous period of service. The men were spelled during the remainder of yesterday morning, but during the afternoon carried out a ceremonial parade through the main streets of Wanganui. The battalion will return to Wellington on Monday.