THE BATTLE OF MESSINES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17490, 7 June 1920, Page 4

THE BATTLE OF MESSINES.

HEROIC NEW ZEALANDERS. GALLANT DEEDS RECALLED. To-day is the third anniversary of tho Battle of Messines—a name which will always hold a proud place in the annals of the New Zealand Division, The battle was a triumph for British arms and for British generalshipThe attack to clear the enemy from the ridge flanking the main road from Ypres to the south, with the village of Wytschaete and the Grand Bois at its northern end and tho village of Messines at its southern,end, was commenced at daylight on June 7, 1917. The actual assault was preceded by tho explosion of nineteen land mines, which, through an immense tunnelling effort, had been laid beneath part of the German position. So successful was the advance that within three hours the infantry had taken the entire crest- Messines Village- itself, and with it many prisoners, fell to the New Zealanders. The success deprived the Germans of the power of observation which had been theirs for so long, and made it possible for Sir Douglas Haig to prosecute hi.i plan for an offensive east of Ypres with the knowledge that his right was secured. The Battle of Messines brought out into a conspicuous light the courage, Endurance, and sacrifice of the New Zealand soldier. It meant loss to hundreds of New Zealand homes.