THE OTAGO REGIMENT

Evening Star, Issue 17765, 13 September 1921, Page 2

THE OTAGO REGIMENT

ITS PART IN THE GREAT WAR. AN HONORABLE RECORD. THE OFFICIAL HISTORY. The first connected account of tho part played by tho Otago Infantry Regiment m the Great War has just been published by Messrs J. Wilkie and Co., of Dunedin. This is ‘ The Official History of tho Otago Regiment in the Great War,’ written by Lieutenant Arthur E. Byrne, MU., First Battalion 'Otago Regiment, When the magnitude of tho great struggle, as compared with previous wars, is considered the task of compiling the history of even one regiment will be recognised as one which required careful and extensive research. The full story of the Waterloo campaign, the shortest and most decisive in history—it lasted less than fivo days—has not yet been fully told, though it occupies a space equal, perhaps, to the whole output of history of other British wars. It can scarcely be hoped, then, that the greatest _ war of all tho ages, numerically in years to the days of Waterloo, can ever see the light in full and historical form. But, as tho author of this work points out, tbo chief purpose of his history will have beep served in keeping alive memories that in time will be woven into our national life and become great and appealing traditions, giving strength and dignity and a sense of their own wm;th to onr neoplo_ of to-day and tho future. For much of his information Lieutenant Byrne had to closelv peruse official diaries and records which were inevitably sparse and sterile in material, and did not always .afford the.

amount of necessary information essential to tho requirements of historical accuracy and fullness. Despite these difficulties, however, the writer has given a very readable story and a worthy and permanent record of the part played by the men from Otago and Southland who, ’with their comrades from all over Now Zealand. took a prominent share in defeating the Gomans.

In an excellent tribute written by Major-general Sir Andrew Russell ho states: “It is beyond tho power of a commander in any retrospect of the crowded and stormy scones of war to attempt to distinguish or differentiate between battalions in their relative and contrasting vicissitudes and general treatment at the hands of Fortune. But it must be said that Fate, especially iry tho earlier years, seemed to take a sinister pleasure in placing the Otago Regiment in the hottest corners of the fight. Pope’s Hill. Mav 2 191.5, the raid at Annentiercs on Julv 13 mid 14. 1916, and Gooso Alley on September 27 of the same year wove hard days; but each experience only served to put’ a finer edge on their stool, and henceforward Fortune smiled on men wbo had shown themselves independent of her favors and concerned only for the opportunities that appeal to' the instinctive fighter.” This reference of General Russell’s to the “hard luck” that seemed to follow the _ Otago battalions in tho earlier days will be read with great interest by tho men of the regiment. Those who were in Franco in the early days know that if the Him raided our line, put over gas, or bombarded, it was usually an Otago battalion that happened to be in tho front line at the time. An officer who will be remembered kindly by all Otago men who had the. honor to serve under him is Brigadierrreneral Bvaithwaito, who for several years commanded the 2nd New Zealand Infantry Brigade. In a message of “grateful remembrance” he writes: I rejoice to think that tho work of the Otago Regiment is to bo handed down to posterity, and that the glorious needs of tho Otago men arc to he kept evergreen and chronicled in a regimental history. . • Whether the Otago men were sealingthe steep and scrubby slopes of Gallipoli or charging the German wire entanglements, as at’ the Bellevue Spur, Passchendaelc, on October' 12, 1917. they always _ displayed tho highest courage and an initiative surpassed by none and equalled by few other troops. ... I hope all Now Zealand bovs will read the histories of their own regiments. When they do the story of the daring deeds of that gallant soul, Sergeant Dick Travis, Y.C.. D.C.M., M.M.. Croix de Guerre, of tho 2nd_ Battalion. Otago Regiment, will surely stir them to 1 lie depths.” The first seven chapters deal with the call to arms in New Zealand, the training at Tahuna Park of the Otago Battalion of the Main Body, the arrival and adventures in Egypt, and the grim and determined struggle against overwhelming odds on Gallipoli, where, from the momentous day of the landing till the wonderful feat of evacuation, tho Otago men took an equal share with the other soldiers from the Dominion, and suffered heavily in casualties. Memories of those who were there will he vividly recalled when they read the accounts of the landing on the rugged peninsula, the tenacious holding of the line, the great August advance (the success of which was mined by the failure at Shvla Bav), the charge across the “Daisy Patch.” and other fights. There are a number of excellent photographs of wellknown snots on Gallipoli, .such as Anzac Cove, Quinn’s Post, Plugge’s Plateau. Walker's Ridge, Russell’s Ton. Dendman’s Ridge. Com tnev's Post, and Rhododendron Spur, and also a. few maps.. From GaTinoli and Egypt tho scene is changed to France, where tho regiment took "its full share in gaining for the Xew Zealand Division a high name amone_tho armies of the allied forces. On Gallipoli tho regiment had been represented by one battalion, but when the division was formed with accumulated reinforcements it was represented bv two battalions, the Ist and the 2nd. From the first experience of trench warfare at Armentiercs right up to tho march to Germany after the armistice, Lieutenant Rvrne has ably described tho numerous actions in which Otago men fought, and given the most prominent acts of gallantry. Photos and maps are liberally supplied throughout, and will enable the ex-soldier to have a clearer perspective of the meaning of certain operations than ho was able to have at tho time. The writer has not neglected tho 3rd Otago Battalion, which saw service in France for some months, including stubborn fighting during tho German advance of 1918.

Any history of the Otago would bo totally incomplete without reference to the wonderful work of Seageaut Dick Travis, of the 2nd Battalion, whose name will always be spoken of witly pride and admiration by men of the _ regiment. His extraordinary exploits won him a name as one of the bravest and most daring men in France. General Ryescll states that one clay, half in jest, he asked Travis if he could "procure a prisoner or two for identification purposes, and that Travis replied : “Any time you say the word, sb.” He kept his promise. The 2nd Battalion of the regiment also possessed another V.C.—Sergeant D. F. Brown. Both these heroes were killed in action.

The work of obtaining orders for 1 The Official History of the Otago Regiment’ lias been given to about a dAsen canvassers, mostly married returned soldiers out_ of employment. The first edition comprises 3,000 copies, which should bo disposed of without much difficulty. Ex-members of the Otago Regiment should certainly obtain a copy. The workmanship of the publishers is excellent, and altogether the book is well worthy of a place on any bookshelf.