Preparing for the assault on Messines Ridge - March 1917

I have not shown such dedication to duty as earned my grandfather a Military Medal. It has been two months since my last post, in that time (100 years ago) the New Zealand Artillery has again been rearranged, but I believe Sydney Williams is still with Z Battery, Trench Mortars. Preparations have been underway since late 1916 to attack the Messines-Wytschaete Ridge (see map)

By March 1917, concealment of these preparations was impossible, so they were being pushed on "with the utmost rapidity, and with all the resources at command."

Large scale infrastructure was necessary. According to New Zealand Artillery in the Field, 1914-18:

The railways which served the area had had to be extended, new roads constructed, and provision made for an adequate supply of water, which had to be brought forward by pipe lines from the Kemmel Hills or from sterilising barges on the River Lys. It was a huge constructive scheme, demanding much exhaustive and informed thought, and careful elaboration of multitudinous detail, and to its masterful handling throughout was due the complete success that attended it. .... The launching of the attack on the Messines-Wytschaete Ridge had been fixed for a date early in June, and fully two months before that date all the countryside behind the forward positions was alive with the countless activities which must always precede such an offensive.

On 15 March, the New Zealand Division relieved the 36th Divison in the sector from St Yves Avenue to Wulverghem-Wytschaete Rd, though the artillery relief happened in the two days after.