NEW ZEALAND'S RECORD

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 134, 8 May 1945, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND'S RECORD

NAVY, ARMY AND AIR SERVICE

BLOWS STRUCK FOR LIBERTY

;• In this rapid survey of what figliiing Hew Zealanders have done in the’ world war, only tlie highest of the highlights can bo mentioned. It will take volumes to adequately cover all their exploits, therefore a newspaper column is certainly not enough, except to give just a sketchy reminder o,f what has been achieved in an historic five years, when Hew Zealanders have always been in the fighting picture on land, at sea, and in the air.

OiYr men of tlic Air Force were among those valiant spirits who carried the offensive into Germany during the first weeks of the war. New Zealanders, keen on serving in the air arm of their own country, had been going to Britain in peace-time, long before the Nazi conspiracy of world conquest had been unmasked. They went Home on short-term commissions, and expected that their first distinctive job would be a peace-time flight halfway around the world. When war broke out they were waiting in England to take delivery of 25 Wellington bombers on which the New Zealand Government had spent £750,000. The great concrete hangars in the well planned aerodrome at Ohakca were ready, but wc never saw those Wellingtons in Now Zealand. They were used to fight for us over the Kiel Canal and to play a glorious part in the .Battle of Britain. HISTORIC “FIRST SHOTS”. So airmen fired the first shots directed by New Zealanders. Jt was the Navy which came next with the New Zealand cruiser Achilles, largely manned by our men, taking part—December 13, 1939—in a bold, swift action in wjiicli three small cruisers tackled superior weight, and ended the commerce -raiding career of the heavily armed German cruiser- Admiral Graf Spec, in the battle of the River Plate. Tims New Zealanders helped to revenge tlie loss of nine British merchantmen, two of them New Zealand trailers, which had fallen victim to the Graf Syce’s guns and torpedoes. Xlur Army had to be trained and transported thousands of miles before it could fire its historic “first shot”. This was on the Yugoslav frontier, at 9 p.m. on April 10, 1941, wfien a New Zealand machine-gun detachment, part of our Division in Greece, rattled off volleys at Vevc wliich were not to end till ltommel had been chased out of Northern Africa, the Italian enemy smashed out of, the war, and the Germans penned up on the plains of Northern Italy.

became a wreck—and incidentally a heartening monument to our American allies for months afterwards.

The Achilles, Leander, and the merchant cruiser Monowai did valiant work assisting the United States forces in their initial operations which checked tlie enemy’s threat to the Southern Pacific area. and we recently found that the Monowai effectively did her job in the famous landing of D-Day on the open coast of Northern France. Prior to the war New Zealand’s naval personnel totalled 82 officers and 1257 ratings. The Dominion’s contribution to the naval forces.lias reached G4i6, and they are to be found on tutorships of every type. Nearly 700 New Zealanders are in the Fleet Air Arm. and many of them took part in the successful bombing of the German battleship Tirpitz. And our men were in the hunt for the German battleship Bismarck in. the North Atlantic in May, 1941, and in the far North Barents Sea when they had a hand in the. destruction of the Seharnhorst on December 26, 1943. AVc shall hear j more of them, serving with the British fleet under Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, in the final assault on Japan. OUR AIRMEN. Something has already been said of the services of Now Zealanders in the air arm of the fighting, forces. Their work is team-work, far from tlie eyo of observers; therefore it is difficult to do them full credit in a rapid survey of war activities. New Zealanders have Avon great distinction as members of the Royal Air Force, which- eventually formed seven New Zealand squadrons, one of them a Spitfire Squadron provided by. public subscriptions from patriotic people of the Dominion. AVherever the It.A.F. has operated, there are to he found New' Zealanders. One brilliantly directed the air defence of Malta against the Luftwaffe in 1942; another commanded the R.A.F. Wing sent to Russia in the first days after the German invasion. The R.N.Z.A.F. was in the Malayan campaign with a fighter squadron, and it operates another fighter squadron from Colombo, with all the personnel except two, New Zealanders. The distinctive services rendered -in the Pacific by the R.N.Z.A.F. are too recent to need a reminder. The record of decorations won by New Zealanders in the air arm of the fighting services is significant. The total is 814 decorations, including the Victoria Cross to tlie late Sergt.-Pilot Ward, and to the late Flying-Officer Trigg. j

WORLD-WIDE WORK OE NAVY. 'Die Achilles had the honour of being in tfie first action which dealt the first scriejUs blow to Hitler’s navy. Warfare nt sea. has been well described as months of dull routine, punctuated by brief periods of intense activity. This was 3argely the experience of the New Zeal&nd cruiser Leander. She left New

Zea hind in May, 1940, on a cruise ■s which lasted more than 16 months. 1 '.l here was patrol and escort duty in y the 'lndian Ocean and the Red Sea, with!one /stroke of luck when she intercepted the Italian armed merchant cruiser Ramb 1, which she sank after a brief action near the Red Sea. The 1 Leander in June and July of 1941 was taking part' in offensive operations against the Vichy French naval and military forces on the coast of Syria.

THE 2ND N.Z.E.F. This has been a strange war, with little opportunity for the more exciting and spectacular aspects, on the home front. Our men have had to depart in secrecy, though in some mysterious way the news usually went round sufficiently for them to carry away a precious memory of thousands waving, God-speed. Not only was there necessity for .secrecy for the sake of safety on the seas to tone down publicity for these farewells, but those left behind soon began to realise that they had to take precautions for the protection of -New Zealand itself. Rut today we can mention dates with greater freedom. In the dawn of a summer’s day - on January 5, 1940, under circumstances contrasting strangely with those of 1914, when bands played and flags were, waved by cheering thousands, the troopships carrying the Ist Echelon of New Zealand’s 2nd Expeditionary Force moved from their anchorage in Wellington harbour. The 2500 men of this Echelon trained at Burnham, in Canterbury, embarked at Lyttelton, where there was certainly a'brave show of public enthusiasm as the troopship, escorted by H.M.S. Leander, steamed down the harbour, the Wellington contingent in Cook Strait. Our kinsmen across the Tasman had sent H.M.A.S. Canberra to protect the convoy, and the British battleship Itamillics was there too. When the Ramillies came, into Wellington wo saw a great si reamer sLrotoliod high above her fighting-lop. Its message was thrilling to New Zealanders —“Well done, Achilles.” FIRST, TO EGYPT. | Where would they go? 'The destination of the troops was a military

There was unspectacular but dangeri ous jvork off the New Zealand coasts. cJ Our sminesweeping flotillas had to be greatly expanded. The loss of the y "Union Co. liner Niagara almost in t sight of Auckland was a reminder of “ y.-Jiat we had to fear, and'in the sweep;l ing which made the port r sale* one well-known 'coastal steamer converted ' into a minesweeper was " hlowh up, unfortunately . with some loss .of life. v, . f"!° little ships of our minesweeping ‘flotilla were patrolling off the . northernmost tip of Guadalcanal in the Solomons on the night of January 29, 19-JJ’ when they discovered a large Japanese submarine. Their depth charges brought it to the surface, and fire was opened with tlm small guns. I It was a. hot action—two small minesweepers against a better armed and JastcJ' adversary. Our men made the scran an “all in - ’ affair. Four-inch guns| well handled, were doing some I 1 (.amage, Imt one of the mine-sweepers adopted ramming' tactics. Three tunes i she furnished into the .Japanese snh- . mariiie, and on the third occasion rude up <jn its deck, listing heavily, but [ keeping her guns going until she could- clear herself. The action went ; on for an hour. The Japanese Submarine had had enough, and in an attempt to escape, struck a reef and

secret, only disclosed on 13th Febru- , ary, 1940, when we were allowed to know that every man had been safely landed in Egypt. The Ist Echelon had been preceded by an Advance Party, which had sailed on December 12, 1939, and had prepared an excellent camp at Mnadi, IS mil.es. front Cairo, on a plateau in the Nile Valley. Jjlaadi was to become a familiar name. It grew from a place with a few lints into a town of 20.000 inhabitants having a good shopping centre and two picture theatres. A DIVERSION TO BRITAIN. The Second Echelon sailed from New Zealand on May 6, 1940. Everyone on the troopships believed that the destination was Egypt, but after leaving Colombo it was soon plain that “something was in the wind”, and the next port of call was in South Africa, and the final destination Britain. The reason was that, as Italy had entered the Avar, the Suez Canal Avas for a Avliilc considered not safe for troopships. However, tlie old route Avas resumed by the 3rd Echelon Avhieh Avcnt direct from Wellington to Egypt, and eventually the 2nd Echelon also joined the Division at Maadi. Up till the end of March, 1945, another tAA'elve replacement drafts had been transported safely to the Division. The Army had sent overseas, at that date, 97,943 men. INTO ACTION IN GREECE. It avhs in April, 1941, that the Division first Avont into action, assisting the Greek Army to stem the eastern advance of the conquering Nazi divisions. The Main Body Avas in action in the Mount Olympus area on April 14, 1941, and even the briefest of sketches must include mention of gallant rearguard actions —at the historic Thermopylae Pass on Anzae eve, along the road to Athens, and against German paratroops at the Corinth Canal.

After tlie failure to hold Greece, part of the Division avus evacuated direct to Crete to defend that island, Avliich tlie Germans expected to take easily Avith a feAv airborne troops. Here Avas Avitncsscd the first large-scale invasion of that type. It Avas a forlorn hope for the Allied defenders, but'they took toll of the enemy to the extent of at least 4000 killed, 2000 droAvned, and 11,000 Avounded. Crete’s defence, so unexpectedly hitter, helped Russia to stem the invading tide, though it did not recede until the Caucasus had been reached.

NORTH AFRICAN CAMPAIGNS. November 19, 1941, suav the N.Z. Division in action Avith the British Eighth Army Avliich invaded Libya. It Avas in this campaign of rapid movement that Brigadier Hnrgest Avith the Fifth Brigade Headquarters Avas captured, and even the Divisional Headquarters nearly overrun. There Avas a

respite of a few months, and a transfer of the Division to Svria (in April, 1942). This Avas.tho prelude to a sensational dash hack from Syria into Egypt— June, 1942—Avhen, hardly a few hours after their arrival, our men Avent pell moll into a bitter delaying action against Rommel’s forces. Our artillerymen hurriedly picked up the good points of a uoav gun, just landed—a 6-pounder anti-tank Aveapon Avliich proved to be of great value in the desert tank actions. The Division’s heavy responsibility Avas to fight a delaying action to cover the AvitlidraAval of the British forces. Our men at one stage Avere surrounded by the

• enemy, and forced their Avay out at the point of the bayonet. It Avas then avc heard the now-fatniliar name of El Alamein. “That ball of fire” Avas the A’ivid metaphor of Mr Churchill Avhen ho described the glorious share of the New Zealand Division in breaking through hostile minefields and trenches during the British offensive of October, 1942. This Avas the- advance which opened the great AvestAvard movement of the Allied forces all along the North African territory, through Cyrenaiea, Avith the stratagem of the “loft hook” Avliich broke the Marctli Line on the night of March 20, 1943. In tlie final stages, in Tunisia, the Ncav Zealand Division

attacked along tlie coast-line, and here Avas Avitnossed the valiant episode of the capture of Takrouna crag by the Maori Battalion. It Avas about this time, at Tebaga Gap, that the late Lieut. Ngarimu. of the Maori Battalion, Avon the Victoria Cross. The Ncav Zealanders’ part in the African campaign ended gloriously Avith the surrender to General Freyberg, May 13, 1943, of their old opponents the 90th German Division, together Avith the 164th Division and the 20th Italian Corps. AND THEN TO ITALY.

A spell of rest and training, and of re-equipment, then the Italian campaign Avhen the Division again linked up Avith its comrades of the Eighth Army, November, 1943, celebrating their arrival by fording the Sangro River, storming the heights behind it, and capturing the tou ii of Castclfrcntana. In February, 1944, the Division transferred to the Fifth Army front, and soon came the outstanding engagements at Cassino, a long grim business into Avhieh they entered on March 14 and maintained until the capture of the town and its heights on May IS. Moving northAvards along the slopes of the Apennines, the New Zealanders helped to break successive defence lines, forcing the Avithdraival of Kesselring, leading to the fall of Rome on Juno 5, 1944.

Switching over in July to a section further west, tlie Division played a prominent part in,'the capture of Florence. Another move in great secrecy, this time about 225 miles to the Adriatic coastal sector, and tho Division Avas to tlie forefront in the capture of Rimini (September 21) and *the clearing of Facnza, on December 17. Though, the line did not move forAvard in any spectacular ivay early this year, the enemy has never been alloAvcd to rest, and history Avill disclose hoAV valuable Avas the contribution of the Allied troops in Italy, avlio held up crack German Divisions Avliilo the Allies smashed into Germany across all its frontiers. Came the new offensive in April, Avhen the Ncav Zealand Division took a leading part in the crossing of the Soldo River. Jt next crossed the Santerno, captured the key communications centre of Massa Lombarda, crossed the l’o Rhor on Anzae Day and carried on to cross the Piave River to join hands Avith the Yugoslav forces near Trieste. THE ARMY IN THE PACIFIC.

A Security Plan, completed in Ncav Zealand long before the start of the World War, visualised Fiji as the outer bastion for the Dominion’s defence. One of the earliest Avar activities therefore Avas the establishment of Ncav Zealand troops and artillery in the Fiji group, the building of aerodromes, and improvement in communications. After tho entry of

Japan into tho Avar, a Division numbering 20,000 men Avas sent from Npav Zealand to Ncav Caledonia. The Dominion also had its defence organisation in Tonga and Norfolk Island.

Tho Pacific Division Avent into action against tho Japanese on Vella Lavc'lla island, in the Solomons, in September, 1943. In tAvo landings the NeAV Zealanders worked out an effective piucer action, driving the Japanese to evacuate, Avith the loss of at least one cruiser and two destroyers. Admiral Halsey declared in a communique that Ncav Zealand forces played the major role in taking Vella Lavella.

Another “mopping up” operation liy Ncav Zealanders Avas the taking of Mono Island, tho main island of the Treasury group. This commenced on October 27, and the landing Avas covered by fighters from tho R.N.Z.A.F. NeAV Zealand and American forces cooperated in the taking of Nissen atoll on February 16, and this completed the campaign -for tho re-taking of the Solomon Islands. The Division returned from the Pacific in due course, and many of its men have reinforced the 2nd Expeditionary Force in Italy, Avhile others are assisting in the essential Avar effort of increasing the Dominion’s food production. N.Z. CASUALTIES—A CONTRAST. The present Avar, so highly mechanised, and largely one of movement compared with tho trench warfare of 1914-IS, has been mercifully lighter in its casualties. Not only are they far fOAver, -hut tlie World!-War total includes 6697 more prisoners of Avar avlio Avill ultimately he repatriated. These arc tho totals to February 28, 1945, compared Avith the complete totals for tho last Avar This 1914-1 S

Totals 35,322 59,428 Since tho above figures Avere compiled there have been further casualties in the last drive northward in Italy. Of tho New Zealand prisoners of war more than 1200 had been announced as liberated and safe in England last Aveek, and since then doubtless many more have been freed.

FOR VALOUR V.C.’S WON BY SEVEN NEW ZEALANDERS. In the total of 3840 honours and decorations Avon by Ncav Zealanders m this Avar are included seven Victoria Crosses, tlie highest decoration of all Hie recipients were : Sergt.-Pilot James Allen Ward of Wanganui, avLo subsequently lost’ his Jilo on active service. \ Capt Charles Hazlett TJpham, of Christchurch. Sergt. Alfred Clive Hulrnc, of Richniond. Sergt. John Daniel Hinton, of Colae Bay. Second-Lieu t. Keith Elliot, of Mangamaire. Second - Lieut. Moana-Nui-A-Kiwa -Ngarimu, or liuatoria (a posthumous award). Flying-Officer Lloyd Allan Trigg, of North Auckland (a posthumous aAvard).

War Wat Dead ... 9.331 36.301 Wounded 17,978 41,302 Missing ...... Prisoners of 931 1.3S3 Avar ... 7,07G 379