PATROLS AND RAIDS

The area held by the New Zealand Division was part of a salient surrounding Armentieres called “The Mushroom”. Reconnaissance patrols were sent out at night to learn more about the area they were holding and information about the enemy opposing them. Ormond Burton, who was to become a pacifist agitator in World War II, wrote an account of the New Zealand Division published in 1935 called The Silent Division. This was a history of the Division from the persepctive of the ordinary soldier rather than those of higher rank who were contracted (or chose) to write an account of their expereinces. Burton provides a description evoking the tension of these encounters.

“Patrols were continually pushing out into No Man's Land to make contact with the enemy and to establish new posts. A patrol would creep out, moving cautiously towards the flares that rose from the German posts – a hundred yards, two hundred yards, three hundred yards and still the flares rise well beyond. The patrol creeps from shell-hole to shell-hole. Machine-gun bullets whiz overhead but they are coming from far beyond. A trench looms up and the patrol lies still and quiet. There is no sound and flares rise still at some distance. They wait for half an hour and then creep in through a gap in the broken wire.”

The New Zealanders' inexperience in mounting such incursions led to some early casualties. They sought the advice of the Canadians, who since 1915 had been involved in the first unsuccessful efforts to dislodge the Germans from their defences. The Canadians had evolved successful patrolling and raiding techniques, and the New Zealanders were quick to learn what worked and what did not.

Sometimes the New Zealanders would raid the enemy trenches. Initially these raids were smaller scale and surreptitious affairs, but later they were larger and served a variety of purposes. Later raids were often preceded by artillery bombardments, and resulted in retaliatory German bombardments. It is possible that Papanui men such as Kerridge, Willey and Elderton were killed as a result of such raids or retaliations. Malthus describes the purpose of such raids:

“The chief object of a raid was ostensibly to ‘collect samples' for the identification of enemy regiments, and no doubt such information was unobtainable by other means; but in the light of later events it would seem that the more valuable function of a raid was to give officers and men, but above all the high command, some experience of the vital new techniques of the ‘creeping' and ‘box' barrages, which were gradually being perfected. Earlier raids had relied on surprise, and at first they had often been successful, but gradually it was found that an increasing number were proving unsuccessful and often disastrous. The reason was simply the Germans' better technique of defence: listening posts and patrols, and much more formidable barbed wire, which was impenetrable without a heavy bombardment.”

Thus the New Zealanders learned the grim business of trench warfare and both sides' tactics evolved in response to actions taken by their opponent. The New Zealanders learned how to use the Stokes Light Trench Mortar. Lewis light machine guns became available in greater numbers, and then the heavier Vickers machine guns and more men had to be trained in their use. Greater supplies of the Mills bomb required men to be familiar with their use. Coordination with the artillery became vital for the future large scale attacks, such as the Somme. Information from aerial reconnaissance also had to be factored into planning. This greater complexity would require the New Zealanders to become more professional and proficient in their approach if they were to survive in this evolving military environment. Major-General Russell, commander of the New Zealand Division, stressed the necessity of strict discipline and thorough and realistic training in order to prepare his Division for taking part in large-scale assaults on the German trenches.