SERVICE OF N.Z. CAVALRY

Southland Times, Issue 24647, 20 January 1942, Page 5

SERVICE OF N.Z. CAVALRY

WORK FOR MANY UNITS IN CAMPAIGN

(Official News Service) CAIRO, January 17. In less than two months of the Libyan campaign, the New Zealand Divisional Cavalry has served under five generals. Entering Libya with the New Zealand Division, it served in turn with Indian, South African and Imperial units and now claims the title of an ifitemational regiment. Although the first British troops, apart from the earliest patrols to cross the wire and the last New Zealand fighting unit to return to the base, the regiment is almost intact. In fact, it arrived with more transport than it began with. Pushing ahead early in the campaign, cavalry patrols were invaluable,'to our advancing forces, constantly telling of enemy movements. The rapid mobility and quickness of our cavalrymen to grasp the situation made possible their escape when the New Zealand brigade headquarters to which they were attached was surrounded at Sidi Azez. They scattered quickly, but reformed later miles to the south, where they joined the Indians. Constant travelling made the vehicles unsuitable for Indian escort work, so they moved with the South Africans towards Capuzzo. With the New Zealanders again early in December, the regiment continued its patrols, and one squadron was attached to the infantry for mopping up. Further operations with the South Africans led to the capture of 35 tanks, field workshops and 30 prisoners. The most difficult task of the patrols over hundreds of miles was carried out by our cavalry acting as protective screens which they formed outside Bardia, where they watched continuously long stretches of the perimeter through which the enemy might attack. Besides useful information they returned with prisoners and tons of equipment. Skilled handling by our troopers kept the vehicles in fighting order for many miles after when it was considered their serviceability had expired. Other New Zealand cavalrymen had a hairbreadth escape when a grenade in a Bren gun carrier exploded with terrific force, igniting a Molotov “cocktail” bomb alongside. The grenade injured only one of the crew. Binoculars which were hanging from the neck of a man in the rear of the carrier were smashed by a piece of flying metal. Other grenades in the same container did not explode.