NEW ZEALAND DIVISION

Otago Witness, Issue 3397, 23 April 1919, Page 21

NEW ZEALAND DIVISION

THANKS AND FAREWELL.

EULOGISTIC REMARKS BY GENERAL HARPER.

HOW THE HUN LINE WAS BROKEN.

A special divisional routine order was issued by Brigadier-general Johnston, C.M.G., D.&.0., Commanding the New Zealand Division, under date Headquarters, December 9, 1918, as follows: Adjutant and Quartermaster-general's Branch.

4456. Valedictory. The following letter of farewell from Lieutenant-general Sir G. M. Harper, K.C.8., D. 5.0., Commanding IV Corps, is published for information^—

"As the New Zealand Division is leaving the IV. Corps, I desire to place on record my appreciation of the valuable services they have rendered, and to thank all ranks for the magnificent fighting qualities which they have invariably displayed. " The division joined the IV. Corps at a critical time on Maroh 26, 1918, when it completely checked the enemy's advance at Beaumont Hamel and Colincamps, and thus closed the gap between the IV. and V. Corps. By a brilliant stroke, it drove the enemy from the commanding ground at La Signy Farm and gained observation over the enemy's lines, which greatly assisted in his defeat on April 5, 1918, when he made his last and final effort to break our front. Throughout the summer the division held portions of the corps front with but_ a short interval of rest. During this period I never had the least anxiety about the security of this portion of the front, on the other hand, by carefully conceived and well executed raids,, the enemy was given little respite, and identifications were procured whenever required—in this connection I deplore the loss of that brave man, Sergeant Travis, V.C

ASCENDANCY OVER THE- ENEMY. "It was the ascendancy gained by this division over the enemy that compelled him to evacuate the ground about Rossignol Wood.' At the commencement of the great attack on August 21, 1918, only a minor part was allotted to the division, but subsequently on the night of August 24 the division was ordered to attack, and swept the enemy from Grevillers. Loupart Wood, and Biefvillers, and rained the outskirts of Bapaume. Stubborn fighting was experienced around Bapaume, but eventually the enemy was overcome and pushed back to the east. • •' "From August 24 till September 14, the division was constantly engaged, and drove the enemy back from Bapaume to the high iground west of Gouzecourt, where very heavy fighting occurred at African Trench. ■;*'«. "After a short period of rest, tne division was put in again on September 29 to complete the capture __ of Welsh Ridge and to gain the crossings over the Canal de l'Escaut. A night advance over difficult country, intersected by the trenches and wire of the Hindenburg Line, was brilliantly carried out and entirely successful, and resulted in the capture of over 1000 prisoners and over 40 guns. On October 1 the division captured Crevecceur against strong opposition, and held it in spite of .heavy shelling and several coun-ter-attacks throughout the subsequent days until the great attack on October 8, when the division broke through the northern portion of the stronslv-oreanised Masniere Line, and penetrated far into the enemy's line at Esnes and Haucourt. A DECISIVE ATTACK.

" Going out to rest on October 12, the division was again in the line on October 23, and drove the enemy back from the outskirts of Romeries to Le Quesnoy. „ Finally, on November 4, the division, by an attack which did much to decide the finish of the war. forced tho" surrender of the fortress of Le Quesnoy, and drove the enemy back through the Forest of Normal, tho total captures by the IV Corps on that day amounting to 3500 prisoners and some 70 guns. THE DIVISION'S "BIG BAG."

"During the period tho New Zealand Division has been in the IV Corps they have captured from the enemy 287 officers and 8745 other ranks, 145 guns, 1419 • machine guns, and three tajiks, besides much other material. The continuous successes enumerated alone constitute a record of which the division may well be proud. It is a record which I may safely say has been unsurpassed in the final series of attacks which led to the enemy's suing for peace. "In conclusion, I wish to thank you and your staff for the willing-support which you have invariably given and the helpfulness shown in all circumstsjices.

" I send every man of the division my heartfelt good wishes for the future."