AUGUST-SEPTEMBER, 1918.

Otago Witness, Issue 3397, 23 April 1919, Page 24

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER, 1918.

SPLENDID RECORDS. '. STORIES OP DARING AND INITIATIVE. (F*OM OUB Ow* CIOERSaPONDIHT.) LONDON, January 21. The New Zealanders whose names are given below are already known in the dominions to be possessors of the D.C.M., but it was only yesterday that the brief outlines of their prowess and bravery were officially told. And each story merits the retelling. * Fuller information than usual as 4o date and locality provides added interest. On the 4th September, in an advance on Havrincourfc Wood, 30152 Private A. G. Akroyd, Ist ' Battalion, Otago Regiment, •*ras in command of a party of eight men.The enemy had posted machine guns in strong positions, and Akroyd showed great skill in rounding up these machines, capturing {.hem and the crews. On the morning of sth September, in front of Neuville, where an enemy machine gun was _ giving much trouble and causing casualties, he took another man out and captured the gun and five prisoners. His initiative and , contempt for danger were a source of encouragement to all ranks. Near Gouzeaucourt Wood, on 18th September, and on subsequent days to 12th September, 1918, the communications forward from battalion headquarters were cut by shell fire, and at all times the enemy continuously shelled our forward areas with H.E. and gas. 25/92 Lance-corporal M. Berry, 3rd Battalion, N.Z. Rifle Brigade, displayed great gallantry in maintaining telephone communication with the front line, keeping the wires in repair, thus ensuring rapid from front lo rear. All the work had to be done under ( heavy shell fire in areas deluged with gas, but he showed utter disregard for personal safety, and at one time was out for five hours repairing lines. His devotion to duty was an inspiration to his comrades.At Crevecceui', on 1./i October, 4/889 Corporal A. T. Brokenshire, M.M., Ist Field Company, N.Z. Engineers, constructed, a footbridge for infantry under heavy fire, and though repeatedly dri\en off by the fire, returned with his men until the bridge was completed. The next day he completed another bridge in the time required, though under shell and machine gun fire. His skill and tenacity were most marked.

A HAUL OF PRISONERS AND GUNS. During the operations about Plaplincourt on the 2nd September the-' battalion on the left failed to reach its objective, with the result that the left flank of the company "so which 27432 Sergeant It. D. Brown, 2nd Battalion, Otago Regiment, belonged remained '' in tho air." On reaching the first objective the platoon commander had be mi wounded, and Brown was left in command of his platoon, isolated on both ■Tanks. lie immediately rushed the cross roads, taking over 50 prisoners and several machine guns. He then discovered that the enemy were strongly entrenched behind him, and between him and the flanking battalion. Reorganising his platoon, ha maintained his positions until reinforcements came up and restored tho situation. During tho whole of the operations he displayed coolness and courage which wore an inspiration to all ranks under his command. WORKING ALONE. On the 24th August, in the vicinity of La Voisselle, when in charge of a patrol detailed- to gain information of the enemy's position, 9/2029 Lance-corporal B. P. Do Latour, Otago Mounted Rifles, came under very heavy machine-gun fire. He placed tho horses of his patrol under cover, and endeavoured to work forward with his men dismounted, but again machine-gun fire held them up. Fearing heavy casualties, he worked forward alone, and succeeded in gaining the location of the enemy's positions and machine-guns and capturing three prisoners single-handed. Tho information when reported to the artillery proved so accurate that tho enemy were compelled to retire, and so allowed our advance to continue. A TANK IN DIFFICULTIES. On the 24th August, during the operations round Bapaume, in tho face of very heavy shell and machine-gun fire, 36573 C.S.M. W. Deuchrass, 2nd Battalion, Otago Regiment, did very good work in reorganising tho company when the attack was held up. When the company was well advanced he noticed a tank in difficulties, and the jrew, who were locked in, wcro calling for help. At great personal risk he went forward and liberated thorn by bursting upon tho door with a crowbar. The tank at this time was drawing heavy fir© from artillery, anti-tank and machine gams.

20512 Sergeant (T.C.0.M.) F. Ellery, 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, " for the greatest gallantry and good leadership during the attacks on the enemy positions east of Gouzeaucourt Wood on 9th to 12th September." During tho attack on 9th September ho was in charge of a platoon, and, with great courage and skill, he led his platoon on to the objective, and consolidated. On the 12th September he captured his platoon objective, and part of that of the platoon on the right, and owing to tho failure of these troops to hold their objective his flank was exposed. He placed himself on tho extreme flank, and his platoon kept up a continuous fight against vastly superior numbers of skilful and brave enemy troops for 12 hours, when they were at last relieved? His gallantry throughout the operations was a splendid example to his men. DISPOSING OF A GARRISON. In the attack on Trescault Ridgs on 12th September the advance of our troops was held up by an enemy's strong point with three machine guns. With one' man, 28874' Corporal A. Gillan, 4th Battalion, N.Z. Rifle Brigade, worked around to a flank of the position, and then with great dash they both rushed the machine guns across the open. They threw bombs into the position, and then jumped in and cither shot or bayoneted the entire garrison of three officers and 12 men, thereby saying many casualties to our troops and facilitating the capture of our objectives. He showed great initiative and utter disregard for danger. On the 13th September, during the opera tiohs near Gouzeaucourt, when in command of his section, 52995 Lance-corporal L. Greenbank, Ist Battalion, Wellington Regiment, showed the utmost disregard for danger during an attack on a stronglyheld enemy post. He personally led his section and rushed an enemy machine gun.which he put out of action himself.' In spite of heavy casualties in his section, he, with two men, continued the attack by bombing a superior enemy force from a strongly fortified post, and gained his objective. He remained with his section until wounded. He set a splendid example to his men. ~ A TOLL OF TEN. •

During the attack on enemy positions near Gouzeaucourt on 12th September, No. 24/186 Private M. Healey, 2nd Battalion, N.Z. Rifle Brigade, was one of a patrol which pushed on after capture of the objective to the positions held by the enemy support company 800 yards in front of our fine. During the attack on the enemy support company he was placed in the most dangerous position where, though isolated from the rest of the patrol, he carried on the fight alone, killing 10 of the enemy with bayonet and bullet and wounding an officer who appeared to be of high rank. His fine work was largely responsible for the surrender of those of the enemy company alive.

Near Gouzeaucourt on the 9th September, the company of 25/887 Sergeant J. Keatley, 3rd Battalion, N.Z. Rifle Brigade, after an advance over ground swept by machinegun fire, was driven back, leaving several wounded men lying out in the open. Although wounded, he went back to report the situation to company headquarters, and on his return, finding that the attempts to rescue the wounded had only' resulted in the would-be rescuers becoming casualties, he went out himself under a hail of bullets and rescued two men. On reaching a third man he found he was already dead. He saved theso two from becoming prisoners, and set a magnificent example to all ranks. CLEARING A WOOD. 24/BJS Sergeant T. R. Kennerley, 2nd Battalion, N.Z Rifle Brigade. "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty near Gouzeaucourt on 9th-12th September. On the 9th his officer having become a casualty, he led his platoon forward, clearing the wood of the enemy. When continuing the advance the enemy opened fire on his platoon from a machine-gun post. In company with a W.O. he rushed the post, killed the crews, and captured two, machine guns, thereby saving many casualties and allowing the advance to proceed. He assisted in the subsequent consolidation, and organised the remainder of the men to repel a counter-attack. On the 12th his. company was attacking, and he again showed great gallantry. The crew of a Lewis gun had become casualties, and he took the gun into action himself and gave covering fire to enable his platoon to move forward. After the objective had been gained he ably assisted his platoon commander in beating off a counter-attack, and was wounded while using his Lewis gun on the retreating enemy." During September 4-6 24/2026, Sergeant B. V. Livingstone, M.M., 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, was continuously out mending wire near Ruyaulcourt with another battalion signaller. During all the actions which his battalion has been in since August 23, 1918, he has again and again faced almost certain death, and continued to maintain telephonic communication between units. On one occasion, during very heavy shelling and in the dark, although thrown over by concussion from a shell, he, accompanied by another battalion _ signaller, mended 10 breaks between Battalion Headquarters and Metz, and enabled the battalion to keep in touch with Brigade Headquarters at a very critical time. His coolness under fire and disregard for his own personal safety were an inspiring example to all ranks. EFFECT OF AN EXPLODING SHELL.

On the morning of September 12, during an attack by his brigade cast of Havrincourt Wood, the hostile barrage broke all forward line communications. 4/1818, Sergeant K. V. Manson, M.M., New Zealand Divisional Signalling Company, New Zealand Engineers, went out early to get the lines through, and worked unceasingly under tho gas and shell bombardment lor seven hours and a-half. By that time he had restored the communications. On one occasion during the period he was gassed, and fell unconscious. Half an hour later he was brought to by the explosion of a shell alongside him, and continued his work. Later in the day ho organised a party to lay new lines to the left and centre battalions, and again carried out his work despite the enemy fire. Near Ruyaulcourt, on September 4-6, when his company was held up by machine guns within 200 yards. 25299, Sergeant M. O'Grady, 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, twice got up from cover to draw their fire and locate them, and did so successfully, enabling the advance to proceed. On September 5 he penetrated Havrincourt Wood between two enemy _ posts, and brought back accurate information ns to the enemy's dispositions. The same night, after patrolling the wood, which was still occupied in places by the enemy, he succeeded

at dawn in getting in touch with the battalion on the left. His cool courage on all occasion was an example to all ranks. During an attack di\ Mill Cross, east of Bapaume, on September 2, some enemy machine guns at the cross roads were holding up the advance and causing many casualties. 32378, Corporal P. S. Putnam, Ist Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, took his section and led them round to a. flank under heavy fire, and succeeded in killing or capturing the enemy crews, and enabled the advance to proceed. His courage and initiative relieved an awkward situation and saved many lives. 24/1189, C.S.M. P. A. Scully. 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade, showed great initiative in the operations from September 8 to 13 near Gouzeaucourt Wood. His company being-without officers, he took it into the final line to relieve troops who were to attack the following day. During the attack on the 9th he had charge of his platoon, in the support line, and controlled it with great skill. On one occasion, with one man, he took a load of bombs to the front line, and when returning observed a machine gun firing on the flank of the battalion. He at once rushed it, and, bombing the crew, killed them all and captured the gun. During the operations near Bapaume on September 2, although wounded, 32923, Private J. L. Shackleton, Ist Battalion, Canterbury Regiment, worked his way along a row of shell-holes and disconnected trenches, and captured from 15 to 20 prisoners. He was •unsupported, and his prompt action secured the left flank of the attacking party from any turning movement during the •"advance.