South Canterbury Plays Her Part in War

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21529, 16 December 1939, Page 39 (Supplement)

South Canterbury Plays Her Part in War

Provincial Military History

First Volunteers in 1863

Empire’s Calls Answered

MOT for a moment throughout her hundred years of history has New Zealand wavered in her loyalty to the Mother Country or been unmindful of the ties of blood and tradition which bind her to the British Commonwealth of Nations. Britain’s cause she has made her own, and with unquestioning patriotism her sons have gone to fight shoulder to shoulder with the sons of the sister Dominions. Through the South African and the Great War, the New Zealand soldier has won a renown which has become one of the proudest traditions of a young nation. In building up that renown South Canterbury has played her part heroically, and in the spirit of a noble tradition her sons again are going forth to fight for the cause of justice.

The military history of South Canterbury goes back to the outbreak of the Native War in 1863, which, although centred in the North Island, gave an impetus to the volunteering movement in Tiinaru. A year passed, however, before any definite steps were taken to form a South Canterbury unit, but following on an announcement in September, 1864, that the Militia throughout New Zealand was to be called out arrangements were put in hand to organise a militia staff for the Timaru district. Another year passed before a meeting was held at Temuka In December 1865 to consider the formation of a Volunteer Cavalry Corps, and later a number of South Canterbury men were formed Into a squadron of the C.Y.C., the Canterbury Yeomen C.valry. Seven months later, July 1866, a movement In Timaru led to the formation of a company of rifles—the Timaru Rifle Volunteers, whose services r ere accepted by the General Government in the following month. By September the company comprised 62 members, and drill was held in a woolshed on the beach pending the erection of a proper hall. In Octover, 1866, a petition carrying 36 signatures was forwarded to the Governor, praying for sanction for the formation of an Artillery Corps in Timaru. Sanction was forthcoming, and in the following month 23 men were sworn in and officers appointed. Other South Canterbury centres took their part in the movement, and about the same time a Rifle Company was formed in Temuka and others in 1885 in Geraldine and

Waimate. A company of Artillery Cadets was formed in Timaru in 1811 becoming 10 years later the O. Battery, N.Z.A. In 1885, it was transferred into the Tiinaru Port Guards and then became a Rifle Company on the introduction of the Territorial System. Although volunteering had been stimulated by the outbreak of the Maori War. South Canterbury did not take any active part In the hostilities. In 1879 the ploughing by natives of land occupied by Europeans threatened another Native War and in 1881 a South Canterbury Contingent was despatched to Lyttelton on October 29, arriving back on November 22 without firing a shot. During a considerable part of its existence the volunteering movement was looked on more as recreation than as a serious system of military training, and according to disparaging remarks made In Parliament, too many joined merely in order to wear a uniform, or to belong to a shooting party. But the organisation which had been built up through the volunteering movement served as a nucleus and pivot for the resurgence of the volunteering spirit In 1899, the year of the outbreak of the South African War. South African War It is now difficult to appreciate the burst of patriotic enthusiasm which came to Great Britain and the outlying Dominions, Canada, Australia and New Zealand when the Empire took up arms to subdue the Boers. Nearing the end of the triumphant reign of Queen Victoria, England was at the height of her power. For two generations she has consolidated her industrial and commercial supremacy throughout the world. Her fleet was unchallenged as mistress of the seas and the prestige of British arms, established at Waterloo, had been enhanced by the campaign of the Crimean War. Meanwhile, the pride of Empire, nurtured by the poems of Kipling, had been growing with the extension of British influence in the Pacific and in the Far Eaat and the success of British arms in Africa and India. Nor had war lost tha etaldic glamour with which it had been invested by ceremonial pageantry and atirring tales of valour told in song and story. Little wonder, then, that war to repulse a threat to an outlying post of Empire aroused a burning patriotism crystallised in those stirring marching songs, somewhat jingoistic, perhaps, in spirit but unsurpassed tn martial fervour and rhythm, “Sons of the Sea” and “Soldiers of the Queen.” Colonies Offer Help Even before the actual declaration of war the colonies offered the help of volunteers to the Mother Country should they be needed. Queensland was the first to make an offer, and her example was followed by Victoria and New South Wales, although the suggestions were received coldly by the

Imperial Government; and on September 28, 1899, the New Zealand Premier, Hon. R. Jf Seddon. proposed in the House that New Zealand should request permission to send 250 men to South Africa. From the wide-spread enthusiasm evident from one end of the country to the other, it was obvious that Mr Seddon had rightly Interpreted the attitude of the Dominion towards the war. Two days later Lieutenant Banks and a number of men from the Auckland Mounted Rifles offered their services and on October 4 the Lieutenant advised that 50 Auckland men were available. On the same day it was intimated that 300 native horsemen in the Wairarapa Cavalry were willing to give their services. Similar offers were made all over the country, in the South Island as well as in the North. On October 8, the Canterbury Contingent under Lieutenant Neave left for Well-

ington and a fortnight later, October 21, the first New Zealand Contingent or 215 officers and men left for the seat of the war. Wellington was en fete for the occasion. Decorated with flags and bunting, the streets were packed with cheering crowds as the men marched to the wharf and speeches suitable to the occasion were made by civic and Parliamentary dignitaries before the men embarked. Patriotic enthusiasm of such intensity had not before been witnessed in the Dominion, an enthusiasm which was duplicated in ceremonial farewells and presentations tendered to the men as they left their home towns for camp. It is interesting to note that as a result of the arduous exertions of all concerned, the New Zealand Contingent was landed in South Africa earlier than any other colonial troops, with the exception of a few New South Wales Lancers, who had arrived from England. South Canterbury Volunteers South Canterbury volunteers for the first Contingent included Trooper Greig, Trumpeter W. A. Bowie, of Timaru, and Trooper D. Fraser, of Temuka. Lieutenant J. Findlay, it was announced, was to follow later. From the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry came Lieutenant M. E. Lindsay, Sergeant D. E. Cardale, and Troopers Ford. A. H. Wilkie, L. Parkinson and Thacker. Another South Canterbury representative in the First Contingent was Sergeant W. Byrne, of the Timaru City Rifles, who was later killed in action. Sergeant Byrne was described as one of the best men in his corps, one of the best shots, and leader of the winning squads in a recent tournament and In a route marching competition. His departure was made the occasion of the “most loyal and popular demonstration ever seen in Timaru.” Officers and men of the three town corps were mustered at the drill shed and led by the Garrison band marched to the station where there was an immense crowd. Before the train drew out, E rgeant Byrne was presented with a purse of sovereigns by the Mayor (Mr J. S. Keith).

Also with the Contingent was Mr C. R. Neale, M.R.C.V.S., Government special inspector at the Christchurch Meat Company’s Smithfield Freezing Works, Timaru, who had received an appointment as veterinary surgeon. Keen Recruiting Meanwhile recruiting for the Second Contingent was proceeding apace. The list was headed by the Waimate Rifles, from which the Goldstone brothers, one a corporal and the other a private, offered their services. The next announcement was that Lieutenant Findlay, of the South Canterbury Mounted Rifles, had arranged his business so that he was free to go to South Africa with the Contingent and that Captain J.M.T. Hayhurst, of Temuka, officer in Command of the South Canterbury Mounted Rifles, had volunteered together with several of his men. Other volunteers were Corporal Collett (Wai-

mate) , Lieutenant Hurst and six others from the Waimate Rifles, Troopers A. B. Thoreau, Jas. Greig, John King, Robert E. Smith and L. O'Callaghan of the South Canterbury Mounted Rifles, Privates Clouston, Mckecknie and Loach of the Geraldine Rifle Corps, Trooper Connolly (Temuka) and Privates C. West and Brown. The Second Contingent, comprising 261 officers and men, sailed from Wellington by the “Waiwera” under Major Cradock on January 20, 1900. The Rough Riders The formation of the Third (Rough Riders) Contingent is of special interest for Canterbury as it was the outcome of the suggestion that a special contingent should be raised by the Province of Canterbury. The Mayor of Christchurch in the daily papers published an appeal to the people of Canterbury which secured so liberal a response that within a week the movement was assured of success. The sum required was more than subscribed in two or three weeks. Horses were presented, supplies of oats and fodder sent in, and enthusiastic Volunteer officers strove to train the men in their duties. The despatch of this Contigent, however, was not as hurried as those of the first two, and it was not until February 17, 1900, that it sailed from Lyttelton under the command of Major T. Jowsey, of Orari.

A week before the contingent sailed the Mayor of Christchurch telegraphed to the Premier protesting against Major Jowsey being appointed to the command of the Contingent, because they wanted him as captain of the Canterbury Company:—“We know,” said Mr Reece, “of no other available Canterbury man to whom we care to trust the lives of our Canterbury boys. The committee were the first to discover Major Jowsey's value and consider it unfair to take him from them at the eleventh hour. It would embarrass them and upset all their arrangements. If he was the only officer suitable they would waive their claim, but in Colonel Fox you have an officer available whose qualifications are unquestionable.” Mr Seddon replied that he entirely disagreed with the statement that Colonel

Fox was the most suitable officer to take command. The success of the contingent in South Africa showed that the Dominion’s trained officers were the right men in the right place. The Third Contingent consisted of two companies, the Filth and the Sixth Tire Fifth, which was designated the Canterbury Company, included the following men from South Canterbury: G. L. D. Acland, Birch Hill; John Butler, Beaconsfield; Harold Bennet. Four Peaks; C. E. Cross, Fairlie; J. W. Canavan, Orari; A. Coupland. Beaconsfield; J. G. G. Cooper, Waimate; C. E. Evans, Orari Gorge; H. C. Grahame, Timaru; H. J. C. Harper, Ashburton; J. J. Heasley, Ashburton; J. Henderson. Orari; H. Jowsey (son of Commander) Timaru; T. W. Kelcher, Waimate; C. Lusk, Ashburton; W. N. Moftat. Timaru; R. M’Farland, Timaru; A. M. Macintosh, Bluecliffs; H. Munro, Waimate; H. McLeod. Orari Gorge; V. W. O’Farrell Waimate; C. C. Clarendon. Ashburton; D. Strachan, Timaru; C. E. Smith, Tinwald; T. L. Scott, Timaru; E. H. Stone, Timaru; T. R. Tindall. Kakahu Bush; R. H. B. Bramley, Ashburton; W. T. Thomas, Ruapuna, Ashburton; C. Y Ward, Waimate; Capt. H. L. Bourne, Timaru; C. W. Ensor, Orari; A. C. Cone, Waitohi Flat; T. W. Kelcher, Makikihi; W. Kidd, Albury; E. Moss, Winchester; C. E. Smith, Timaru; R. D. Smith, Waimate; C. F. Vernail, Orari. Throughout the duration of the war Contingents were despatched from the Dominion at regular intervals until the Tenth, which arived in South Africa on the eve of peace, the men being much chagrined at being ordered home almost immediately. Details of the Contingents are as follows:

New Zealand sent nearly eight out of every thousand of its white inhabitants to the war, which (as the “Cape Times” observed) was-pretty nearly as good as the mother country with its average of 8J per thousand. The cost to the Dominion was £334,000, besides a pension list of £3OOO a year.

The Great War

Il is not practicable to follow exclusively the fortunes and exploits of the South Canterbury troops throughout the war, as there were no independent South Canterbury units, but the fortunes of the Canterbury Regiment with which South Canterbury men were intimately associated affords the best available record of their deeds and of the campaigns in which they took part. Canterbury Regiment The Canterbury Regiment left Wellington with the Main Body on October

16, 1914, and proceeded to Egypt by the “Lutzow,” disembarking at Alexandria and going into camp at Zeitoun, near Cairo, for a period of intensive training.

The New Zealanders did not have to wait long before being called upon for action, and on January 25 came the news that the Turks were advancing upon the Suez Canal in three columns. By this time the New Zealand Infantry Brigade was considered sufficiently seasoned to support the 11th (Indian) Division, the British troops posted to the defence of the Canal. Actually the expected attack made on February 3, had its main point opposite one of the Canterbury posts and was repulsed with heavy loss to the enemy and only two casualties to the 12th (Nelson) Company. Landing at Anzac The next theatre of war for the New Zealanders was the Gallipoli Peninsula where the colonial troops received their baptism of fire and engraved the name of Anzac in the annals of heroism. The first New Zealand troops to land at Anzac Cove were those of the Auckland Battalion, the two Canterbury Companies following. LieutenantColonel Stewart with the 2nd (South Canterbury) Company, well forward, took up a position on Walker’s Bridge, and immediately became involved in heavy fighting. The Lt.-Colonel went back for reinforcements and in bringing up a party of Australians was killed. The South Canterbury men then with the Australians repulsed with bayonets three Turkish attacks before withdrawing to more suitable ground, where they dug in. The first day’s fighting resulted in the loss to the Canterbury Battalion of three officers and 21 from the ranks, the officers including the Commanding Officer (Lt.-Colonel Stewart) and Major D. Grant, officer commanding the South Canterbury Company, who was one of the first to be killed during the landing. Two officers were wounded with 87 from the ranks while 100 were missing in addition to Lieutenant C. C. Barclay of the South Canterbury Company. On the sth of the following month the New Zealand Infantry Brigade was taken from Anzac to Cape Helles to take part in the battle of Krithia. “In the deadly struggle which ensued,” observed Sir lan Hamilton, “in the night-long conflict, in the supreme effort of (Bth May) the New Zealanders gained great glory.” There was spasmodic fighting through June and July until August 6 saw the great attack on Sari Bair, Sulva. The New Zealand Infantry Brigade, under Brigadier General Earl Johnston, formed the right assaulting column and during the four days’ desperate fighting gained, with the assistance of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles and the Maoris, a footing on the Sari Bair ridge, which they held to the end. The positions were practically on the site of the front line of the trench system held on the Rhodendron Spur until the evacuation of the Peninsula. During the operations from August 8 to August 10 the Canterbury Battalion remained in the trenches consolidating the position; although orders were received on the second day for the Battalion to hold the trenches

with half its forces, the remainder to help the Aucklanders in a new attack. The remainder of the battalion, including the South Canterbury Company moved forward and lay down in the open, coming at once under heavy shrapnel fire and suffering severe casualties. The Evacuation After the evacuation of the Peninsula the New Zealand Force returned to Egypt, where the New Zealand Division was organised under Major General Sir A. H. Russell and sailed for France. The 2nd Battalion, with its South Canterbury Regiment, disembarked at Marseilles on April 14, 1916, and went into the trenches on May 15. Both the First and Second

Battalions were engaged in trench warfare near Armentieres for three months and then moved with their brigades to the rear for a period of intensive training in preparation for the battle of the Somme. Casualties in the trench warfare totalled 102 killed and 366 wounded. Somme Offensive In the Somme offensive the New Zealand Division took part in the first large scale attack at Flers on September 15, but neither unit of the Canterbury Regiment was in the van. although the 2nd Battalion as supporting troops suffered heavy casualties from heavy shell fire. A surprise attack by the 2nd Battalion on a strongly held German trench known as Goose Alley occasioned some of the fiercest fighting of the regiment in the battle. In face of close range rifle and machine gun fire, the New Zealanders charged the trench and cleared it of the enemy, who brought up more troops in a series of counter attacks. At one time both of the Canterbury flanks had been encircled by the enemy and there was imminent danger that the battalion would be cut off. It was at this juncture that Capt. F. Starnes arrived with supporting troops and at once reorganised the defence, giving the men fresh courage. Early on the 21st came the last and heaviest of the German counter attacks delivered with fresh troops against the battalion which had been digging all the previous day and

hand fighting all night. Finding that engaged in the most severe hand-to-the Germans with their “egg” bombs outranged the “Mills” grenades, Capt. Starnes led the men into the open to bomb the enemy in their trenches and finally with unsurpassable determination led a bayonet charge, which cleared the position. It was an episode in which officers and men had shown outstanding valour, which was recognised by the “immediate award” of the D.S.O. to Captain Starnes and Military Medals to two privates, besides being the subject of high commendation from Army and Corps commanders, one of which congratulated “Major-General A. H. Russell and the New Zealand Division on t' e success gained by the 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment.

The repeated attacks, renewed and delivered with such energy and determination, speak highly of the fine fight- ; ing qualities displayed by all ranks.” ; The 1916-17 xinter was spent in trench warfare on the sector of Sailly- i sur-la-Lys. At the end of February, 1917, the New Zealand Division moved i north to Ploegsteert Wood and the sector before Messines, where the Can- . terbury Battalions were again engaged : in trench warfare and in training for the great battle which was to take 1 I place in June. i | Action at Messines I On June 7. 1917, the Ist and 2nd Battalions of the Canterbury Regiment took part in the completely successful I attack of the 2nd British Army on the

i strong defensive positions established ; by the Germans of the Messines Ridge. ' On the right half of the 2nd Brigade 1 front the Ist Battalion attacked the closer brigade objectives, completing its full task to time-table. The 2nd Battalion then passed through to capture the final objective, including part of the ruins of the town of Messines Itself. They met with somewhat more severe resistance than the Ist Battalion, particularly in the ruins, which were j honeycombed with strong cellars and packed with hostile machine guns. The I fighting was again marked by feats of signal bravery and daring initiative. In July and August, 1917. the Ist and 2nd Battalions had serious fighting about Basse Ville, and Warneton. south of Messines, while the 3rd Battalion, which had in the meantime landed in France, was in the Le Bizet sector on their right. At the beginning of September the New Zealand infantry were moved back for three weeks’ special training for what was to prove the bloodiest battle in history, the Third Battle of Ypres. The Ist and 2nd Battalions were back in the line east of Ypres by the end of September, and on October 4 the Ist and 4th New Zealand Infantry Brigades, including the 3rd Battalion Can- | terbury Regiment, attacked Gravenstafel and the Abraham Heights with success. The casualties of the 3rd Battalion were 11 officers and 247 other ranks. Tragedy of Passchendaele On October 12, 1917, came the tragedy of Passchendaele in which the New Zealand Division suffered extremely heavy casualties, and for the only time in a major operation in France, failed in spite of the greatest bravery to attain its objectives. As the attacking brigades were the 2nd and 3rd, the Ist and 2nd Battalions of the Canterbury Regiment came in for a full share of the disaster. In the words of Colonel L. M. Inglis “the Germans were defending from an enormously strong system of mutually supporting concrete blockhouses or “pill-boxes,” covered by dense barbed wire entanglements, often 50 yards in depth. With insufficient tune for reconnaissance and prepara-

tion ,the artillery, faced with enormous difficulties in getting their guns and ammunition into position at all and to keep them from sinking in the mud when they had been got up, could neither destroy these defences nor provide effective covering fire to enable the infantry to force their way through. Our men, dragging themselves through deep mud over shellploughed, water-logged land towards the uncut wire, from behind which the enemy, safe from small arm fire in their concrete shelters, shot them down' in hundreds, were faced with obstacles they had no weapons to overcome. The remnants of the leading battalions, brought to a standstill in slimy shell holes before the uncut wire, were joined by the rear battalions. Party after party made determined efforts to ad-

vance. but each Isolated effort received the concentrated fire of every well protected enemy machine gun within reach, till at last even the smallest movement meant certain death. It was failure, but failure without disgrace to the fighting troops, who were held up rather by impassable mud and uncut wire than by the enemy’s troops.” Into the Breach In March. 1918, the Germans launched their last great attack which forced back the British sth Army, and the New Zealand Division, fit after a month’s training away from the line I were thrown into a five-mile gap which ; had formed between retiring British I Divisions. The two Canterbury Batj taiions formed part of the first body of New Zealand troops that closed the gap and frustrated all further attempts of the enemy to advance. By counterattacks the New’ Zealanders established themselves on the most favourable ground for defence and defeated the last German attack on Ancre on April 5. A spontaneous tribute to the work of the New Zealanders on this occasion is contained in a French Army Order, published after the Armistice, which observes: “Major-General A. H. Russell has led a splendid Division to countless victories. Its exploits have not been equalled, and its reputation was such that on the arrival of the Division on the Somme battlefields during the most critical days of March, 1918, the flight of the inhabitants immediately ceased. The Division covered itself with fresh glory 7 during the battles of the Ancre. at the Sambre, at Puisieux au Mont. Bapaume, Crevecoeur and Lc Quesnoy.”

The 21st of August, 1918, saw trench warfare finally give way to mobile warfare for the New Zealand Division which continued its long list of successes in the British offensive which led ultimately to the Germans suing for peace. In that triumphant advance figure the actions of Canal du Nord. Cambrai. the Hindenburg Line, the Selle River and Sambre. the last battle in which the Canterbury Regiment took part. After the Armistice the New Zealand Division commenced its march to the Rhine, and both battalions of the Canterbury Regiment reached Mulheim, on the right bank of the Rhine on December 20. In the two following months the men were gradually disbanded as the various drafts were sent home to be demobilised. Roll of Honour Because of the dispersion of men throughout the various service® and the lack of relevant statistics, it is not possible to state with precision the number of South Canterbury men who served in the Great War or the number of casualties, but the approximate figure)) give an eloquent indication of the district’s great war effort and of the precious sacrifice on the altar of freedom. South Canterbury sent more than 2500 of her sons. The number killed totalled 169 from the Timaru Borough, 211 from the Waimate district, 118 from Teinuka. 18 from Pleasant Point and 12 from Geraldine. The Present War The history of the present war Is in the making and when that chronicle is written we know it will record once more that South Canterbury has responded to the cell of patriotism and sacrifice with that notable generosity which has marked its efforts in the past and that South Canterbury has played its part in wresting for the Empire and the world the victory which must be ours.

Contingent Sailed Total .. Oct. 1899 .. 220 Second .. .. Jan. 1900 .. 270 Third . .. .. Feb. 1900 .. 266 Fourth . . March 1900 .. 472 Fifth .. . March 1900 .. 616 Sixth .. .. .. Jan. 1901 .. 612 Seventh . .. April 1901 .. 608 Eighth .. .. Feb. 1902 .. 1142 Ninth .. . March 1902 .. 1218 Tenth .. .. April 1902 .. 1081 Total 6505