WHEN STRIFE CEASED ON WESTERN FRONT

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6944, 25 June 1929, Page 4

WHEN STRIFE CEASED ON WESTERN FRONT

“Murdochs Truce”

REMARKABLE EPISODE OF AUSTRALIAN FIFTHS

Major Murdoch’s informal truce, one of the most remarkable episodes of the war, to which reference was made in a London cable recently, is described by Captain C. E. W. Bean in the third volumo of his ‘Official History of Australia in the War.’

The truco occurred on July 20, 1916, The German artillery had been crashing for hours on the Australian front line, and the troops had received such a pounding that even they were “absolutely unnerved’’ and “unfitted for further resitancc.’’ Lieutenantgeneral Sir J. W. M’Cay, who commanded the sth Division, called up his reserves of artillery and ordered a counter-bombardment, which lasted for a number of hours, until about midday, when, the artillerymen on both sides being worn out, the guns ceased. It was then that Major Murdoch surveyed the smashed-up surroundings, and Captain Bean records what he did in tho following words: —

“There followed a stillness never again experienced by the sth Division in the front trenches. The sight of tho Wounded lying tortured and helpless in No-Man’s Land, within a stone’s throw of safety, but apparently without hope of it, made so strong an appeal that Major Murdoch, of tho 29th Battalion, decided to risk his life and his military career in an effort which might result in rescuing every wounded man. A Red Cross flag, improvised by tacking some red cloth upon a board covered with newspaper, was waved above the parapet in order to gain tho enemy’s attention, and then with a private of his battalion named Miles Murdoch crossed No-Man’s Land to the German wire. They carried with them a large number of water bottles, which they distributed to the wounded on the way over. Both Parapets Crowded.

“The parapets on both sides were crowded with soldiers watching, and on reaching tho enemy wire Murdoch asked for an officer. A Bavarian lieutenant ‘immaculately dressed,’ emerged, and Major Murdoch asked if an informal truce could be arranged to enable the wounded to be collected.

The Bavarian replied courteously enough, regretting that he had no authority to give an order to that effect, and saying that he would telephone for instructions. Upon his doing so a reply was received from tho headquarters of his brigade or division agreeing to the proposal on condition that the Australian stretcher-bearers should work only in their own half of No-Man’s Land, tho wounded in tho German half being cleared by German stretcherbearers. As a bond of good faith Murdoch, after consulting his own division, was to come back blindfolded to the German trenches, to be held there as hostage until the collection was finished. Murdoch at onco carried back this proposal, which was telephoned to McCay’s headquarters. “Iu tho meanwhile, except for the occasional discharge of a gun in the rear area, hostilities had ceased, the informal truce having spread to the whole battlefront, and the garrison of both sides were engaged—the Australians in bringing in some of the wounded, and the Germans in repairing their front trench. Near th 6 Laias, where the Australian wounded lay thick, the Germans began to go over their parapets, apparently in order to bring in the men lying . nearest to them. A messago was accordingly sent by the 15th Brigade asking the artillery to stop any of its guns which was then firing.’’

Into No-Man’s Land. General M’Cay heard of the happening, and he sent a messago that the truco was to end, as he was afraid that tho Germans would uso it for propaganda purposes, magnifying the effects of their victory. When General M‘Cay’s order reached the front lino the stretcher-bearers were stopped going out. No shots were fired, however, as the Germans were still out among the wounded, and all artillery fire remained abated, but a desultory sniping was resumed by both sides in other parts of the line. “Then was seen, along tho whole front of the sth Division, that magnificent tribute of devotion which the Australian soldier never failed to pay to his mates,” writes Captain Bean. “For three days and nights, taking the chance of wounds and death, singlo men and parties continued to go out in answer to the appeal from No-Man’s Land. On tho night of July 20 the work was organised, all battalions, including the pioneers’, sending out stret-cher-bearing parties, by which means no les3 than, 300 were rescued, chiefly opposite the 15th Brigade, whose wounded lay in swathes along the rises or crowded in tho ditches. The work is vividly described in a letter from Sergeant Fraser, of the 57th:— “Fritz Treated Us Fairly.” “ ‘I must say Fritz (i.c., the German) treated us very fairly, though a few were shot at the work. Somo of these wounded were as game as lions, and got rather roughly bandied; but haste was more necessary than gentle

handling It was no light work getting in with a heavy weight on your back, especially if he had a broken leg or arm and no stretcher bearer was handy. You had to lie dowr and get him on your back; then riso and duck for your life, with a chance

of getting a bullet in you beforo you were safe. One. foggy morning in particular, I remember, wc could bear someone over towards the German entanglements calling for a stretcherbearer; it was an appeal no man could stand against, so somo us rushed out and had a hunt. We found a fine haul

of wounded, and brought them in; but it was not where I heard this fellow calling, so I had another shot for it, and came across a splendid specimen of humanity trying to wriggle into trench with a big wound in his thigh. He was about 14st. weight, and I could not lift him on my back; but I managed to get him into an old trench, and told him to lio quiet while I got a stretcher. Then aonther man about 30yds. out sang out ‘Don't forget me, cobber.’ I went in and got four volunteers with stretchers, and wo got both men in safely. Next morning at daylight, while observing over the parapet, I saw two figures in their shirts and no hats running about halfway between our lines and the Germans. They were our captains, Cameron and Marshall, hunting for more wounded.’ ”