HEROISM OF NEW ZEALANDERS IN A TRYING TIME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16672, 17 October 1917, Page 7

HEROISM OF NEW ZEALANDERS IN A TRYING TIME.

ADVANCE STAYED BY APPALLING STATE OF FRONT. DIFFICULTIES FACED IN BRINGING IN WOUNDED. INDIVIDUAL ACTS OF DARING AT GRAVENSTAFEL. By Telegraph—Press Association— New Zealand War . Carreßpondenfa Message* , oc *- **• The weather has been simply appalling. The battlefield'has been such a sea of mad and of water-logged shell holes that the continued • success of our last attack was an utter impossibility. In. addition, our men found themselves confronted with machine-guns in strong concrete positions, fronted with barbed-wire uncut by the artillery. Under the circumstances we had to be content with a very small advance. Nevertheless we have accounts' .or many Germans, and have taken some prisoners. The difficult «in transport and in getting in the wounded have been great, but are being gradually overcome, and the weather at last seems to be settled and fine. The division mourns the loss of several brave officers and men. Many deeds of great heroism were performed in this fight, especially in connection with the rescue of the wounded. The difficulties can be imagined when it is stated that it takes six men six hours to bring in one wounded man from the front. . In tie attack on Gravenstafel on October 4, which was so successful many heroic deeds have also to be recorded, such as will make the victory live in our history. The manner in which the officers and men risked almost certain death and wounds in storming concrete machine-gun positions and either killing or capturing their crews was worthy of the best traditions of the New Zealand force. Many worked and fought until utterly exhausted. Others carried on '* after being wounded. One man, armed with only a revolver, rushed a machine-gun position. His bravery led another man to follow mm. Both were wounded, and the second man has since died, but their action enabled others of their section to get up, and the gun i was captured and the crew killed. A Wellington badly wounded, lay upon the ground and kept urging his men to attack until a post was captured and a machine-gun crew killed. A Canterbury sergeant, badly wounded, in command of his platoon, continued directing and encouraging his men until he became paralysed .and helpless. Throughout he remained cheerful. An Auckland lieutenant, acting .as adjutant of his battalion, bad bib commanding officer and acting-second in command wounded shortly after the attack commenced. He took command of the battalion and reached the final objective. Though only one junior officer in each company was left the unit succeeded in holding the line and repelling three counterattacks An Auckland corporal, just before reaching the objective, had his arm blown off. With splendid determination he refused assistance, ordered his men to push on, and by his coolness and courage steadied them at a trying period. These are only a few of many brave and daring deeds done in this battle that will redound to the credit of the New Zealanders for all time.