LOCAL ACTIONS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21607, 9 January 1945, Page 6

LOCAL ACTIONS

NSW ZEALAND UNITS NIGHT! N PATROLLING DARING HASTINGS MAN (N.Z.I-l.’r. OlliGul Will - Lon'islKimli-nl.) FAKNZA, .I:m. f>. Local movement only hits taken place during tho past 10 days ;ilm« tin; front north-west of Faen/.a occupied by Mew Zealand infantry and armour, and in the greater part of the area disputed ground stilt separates them from the high slopbank behind which flows the Seine River, the next water harrier on the way to Bologna. Nightly patrols from both sides thread their way across the Hat, cultivated fields and vineyards, oi which the countryside is composed, seeking information or prisoners for identification. but there lias been nothing in the way of major operations since our last big attack on tie' nigh! of December 19. Two nights ago one of our battalions. sensing an enemy withdrawal advanced some 800 yards and occupied a group of houses without opposition. A further advance of 800 van., made on one part of the New Zenlane sector last niglu was unopposed Patrols reported the Germans wen. falling back from somewhat exposes positions, and the Kiwis made . silent advance to-night and oceupie the vacated easas, taking prisons four left behind to report our reacla. to the withdrawal. _ One prooabl. prefers being "in the bag” to trying , explain to his superior officers wit. he went to sleep when left walc'nin Ordered to signal our movemcii with flares at It o'clock, lie woke a midnight, started to investigate, an walked into one of our patrols. On another part oi the sector German party which crossed in, Senio to lay mines was disco'.eii. and driven back. leaving one neat, and all their mines. A daring exploit was carried cut e. Private Harry Alclvor, Hastings, who. his platoon was hold up during . night advance by three Spanciau !.•••••. ahead which kept the infantry pimw, to the ground. Alclvor moved behind the Germans, stalking them vcn. his tommy-gun. He cleaned out in jirsL post and moved silently up f Ine second, and as he jumped in clus to open lire lus tommy-gun jammer. Bui. uelure the Germans could swim. their glim on lo him he tossed . grenade into the position. With two posts wiped out, th. platoon was able lo move on unu kurus oojeclive. Alclvor rail into another expenenc. again in the darkness when wnn an other lie was searching round tin haystacics in die yard ot a easa jus taken. [j mi ole to see m tne pin. darkness, he struck two matches, am in the light of the second found thru. Germans standing wnn upraise, hands, it is claimed he is the uin, (soldier to nave taken prisoners wu.