Today, reading New Zealand Artillery in the Field, 1914-18, I learn that my grandfather's commanding officer was the New Zealand battery commander to lose his life in the war. It happened within two months of the New Zealanders at Armentières. The 1st Battalion of the Otago Regiment staged a raid on 13 July but it failed due to"the totally unexpected and withering fire which the enemy
brought to bear on the party". The New Zealanders' heavy guns were unable to
neutralize it, despite all three groups of artillery being used. They were unable to do much damage to over twenty enemy
batteries.
The guns of the 4th (Howitzer) Battery of the 3rd Brigade (my grandfather's) "had been dragged from the pits into the open in order to obtain the necessary switch, and during the height of the firing the enemy sprayed the position with shrapnel." It was in this encounter that commanding officer Captain J. L. H. Turner, M.C. lost his life, and command passed to Captain D. E. Gardner.
The guns of the 4th (Howitzer) Battery of the 3rd Brigade (my grandfather's) "had been dragged from the pits into the open in order to obtain the necessary switch, and during the height of the firing the enemy sprayed the position with shrapnel." It was in this encounter that commanding officer Captain J. L. H. Turner, M.C. lost his life, and command passed to Captain D. E. Gardner.
I'll post your article about your grandfather on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/thebelgianshavenotforgotten/#. we will remember those victims today in Armentières with the NZ ambassador,the NZ Chief of Army and other French authorities.
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