MESSINES.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume XXXI, Issue 4131, 16 June 1920, Page 1

MESSINES.

WITH THE NEW ZEALAND

DIVISION,

(Contributed to the Dominion.)

On every hand the war is being fast forgotten. With it goes the old spirit of comradeship. Yet it is but a 'bare three years since .the battle ot 1 Messines was fought—a battle ever to be a milestone in New Zealand's history. In order to stay fofgetfulness this article, is written. It is hoped. that the recalling of places and names will not be without interest, not only to those who were with the division at the times mentioned or at any time, but also to those who lost sons or brothers at Messines or elsewhere.

Messines. Is it but three years ago ? Why, it seems an age ! Once scarce remembers it

Fleurbaix, Laventie, Le Bizet, Ploegsteert. Ah! old "Plugstreet." Thaj brings it back p. little. Hyde Park Corner, Red Lodge, Bulford, Kortepyp, and Regina Camps. The old names: how they come 4 flooding, back, Hill 63, with the old Catacombs, A De Seule, Romarin, Brune Gaye, Canteen Corner. How do they look today ? The old "Froggies"—■do they ever give a thought for the Neuvellc Ze landers ? Jean, Henri, and Paul, we expect, hold sway with the. mademoiselles • now-a-days. But, Madame, perhaps, has a kindly thought for§us occasionally. Dp you recollect the little villages near SI. Omer where we trained for Messines ? What of the march back there ? You, who were First Brigade, will recall marching past General" Godley near Vieux Berquin—the horse show at Strazeelt—the few days' stay at Petit sec Bois —then the three weeks*, train-, ing near St. Omer. For the, most part there was glorious weather, and everyone was as fit as a, fiddle. Then the march back: Argues, Zutpenne, and Petit sec Bois again. With full marching order and:steel helmets,!: was warm work. How splendid, in the spring and summer was France, with its beautiful trees, intense cultivation, and fields of ripening corn. Back to De Seule again. From De seule to Hill ,63 ; what preparations had heen made. Dumps everywhere r shells everywhere; guns almost wheel to wheel. Yet the Hun seemed in blissful ignorance of it all, for he put comparatively little real "hate" over., Oh, yes, of course, gas. Have you forgotten the noise of a. bursting gas shell? No, hot mustard gas: on?y phosgene and lachrymatory shells, for we used only the mouthpieces of. our S.B.R.'s then—a thing we dared never do a few weeks later. Then the "stunt" itself. My God, what a weight a man had to carry into action—fighting ki.t, rations, iron rations, field dressing,. S.A.A., bomb 3, rifle grenades, flare pistol, flares/and a spade or a pick. How did we feel ? No, not "windy," or at least, not very "windy." Nervous, perhaps, and anxious that the stunt should be a sue-: cess; but as zero drew on, everything gave way to a feeling of courage and confidence—even elation.

How low the contact planes flew that morning. Zero. Will you ever forget that? The explosion of tha mines ; the roar of our barrage as, on the instant, every gun opened put: just one continuous deafening roar, with the occasional roar, with tne occasional deep bark of a twelve-inch "How." It was indescribable.

What good fellows fell that day, arfd on the days that followed. Many —old comrades since Gallippli. Not our men alone, but many of our old comrades, the "Aussies," and men of the Irish Division. , Then, when pur advance was complete, with what fierceness did the Hun pound that heap of rubble which once was the village of Messines, and the whole countryside around. What a relief to be put of the tornado of battle—back to Bulford," Kortepyp, or Regina Camps, or Brune Gaye, or Romarin. The excitement of battle gave way to a feeling of deep exhaustion —some of us too tired to eat, hungry though we were—sleep oar only desire. Then, next day, less tired than before, how eagerly we devoured the English papers with their lurid accounts of the battle—the battle out of which we Lad just come. In the days to come, what pilgrimages there will be to the graves of old and loved comrades. Some brave men lie at Pro wse Point: others at Red Lodge, Charing Cross, and Mud Lane, while others again lie- ono knows not where, for all over the field of battle New Zealand blood was poured forth freely. Wherever they lie, they died as any man might wish to die.