GOOD WAR SERVICE

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XVII, Issue 5607, 2 May 1919, Page 3

GOOD WAR SERVICE

DOMINION TUNNELLERS’ RECORD A fine record of war service attaches t . the New Zealand Tunnelling Corps the remaining members of which arrived in Auckland by the tonic last week. 'Pile corps left Auckland on 20th Do comber. 1915, under the command m Liontenaut-Cofonol J. E. Duigan. h was fitted out at Falmouth, and was the first New Zealand unit in France. J r relieved the French on the Viimy Ridge, and was engaged in active mining operations there loi- two years. With the approach of the Carnbra.i offensive a party was detailed for special duty. The « orjr. jwas responsible for the underground system at Arras, which involved the formation of communication trenches leading to the German front line. Special mention of this work was made in a despatch by Sir Douglas Haig. • Tinfact that over 36,000 men were accom inodated underground in canvas and dugouts, before the battle started, ves some idea of the magnitude of the work The underground trenches to the Gor man lines carried a 4-inch waternunn and a 2ft tramway. 'The operations were the means of preventing heavy casualties when the enemy barrage came down on the opening of the attack on 7th April, 1917. The commander of the corps, Colonel Duigvi, was admitted to the D. 5.0., in recognition of the valuable services rendered. The D.S.O. was also conferred oif Captain H. Vickerman who took command, when Colonel Dnigan left. The same distinction was conferred on Capftiin J. P. G Richards, the medical officer of the unit, who did excellent work during offensive. Military Ciccse.vvere awarded to Captain R. 11. Dal ly and Captain G. Campbell. In addition, a large number of non-com nr ssioned officers and men of the unit woe recipients of tlfe Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal. After the Mess-mes offensive actne mining operations on the West Irnur, ceasoch owing to the continual fluctuation of the line, and the Tunnelling Corps was engaged in constructing .dugouts, roads, and bridges. In the British offensive, of 1918, the unit completed a bridge over the Mons Canal, which received the high, appreciation of the Commander-in-Ctnef. For good work here the Tunnelling Corps was specially mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s despatch, and the D.S.O. was conferred on Captain Dudley Holmes. The unit did not work with the N ;, w Zealand Division, hut operated all the time it was in France with the Thm'S Army. It has a. unique record, lo” its i ate of work was hover beaten by a British Tunnelling Company, and a markable fact was that although the unit was continually at work from the time it landed in France unUl the armistice was signed, the casualties ware extraordinarily few.