The Last Post - for now

Today commemorates the ending of World War One with the signing of the Armistice on 11 November. The news was greeted by soldiers of the Artillery with little emotion - no doubt war wearied by this engagement that was predicted when it started to be 'over by Christmas'. According to the New Zealand Artillery in the Field, 1914-18 gives the news a brief paragraph before going into  an eight-page recap over what the Artillery had achieved in the preceding four years and summary of key movements:

The Armistice took effect from 11 a.m. on November 11th. The official intimation to this effect, announcing that hostilities would cease at 11 a.m., was received by units of the Divisional Artillery when they were on the march to Quievy or preparing to take the road. The announcement was received calmly, with no cheering, no demonstration. For these men, tired in body and mind and fresh from the tragic fields of battle, this momentous intelligence was too vast in its consequences to be appreciated in a single thought.

Though the fighting was over, the War did not officially conclude until the Treaty of Versailles with Germany on 28 June 1919; while the New Zealand forces would become part of the Army of Occupation of Germany, and my grandfather would not return to New Zealand til late 1919.

Given that, further blogs may be posted on the aftermath of the war, and covering key gaps or further reflections I have not been able to provide in my intermittent postings.

6 November - temporary bridges

On 6 November,  New Zealand Artillery in the Field, 1914-18 reports the Artillery had problems getting through forest due to blown-up bridges and mined roads. 

A working party was, therefore, dispatched to make an endeavour to erect a temporary bridge over one stream, whilst the track running south-east through the forest to the north of the road was reconnoitred, and an advanced section of the 2nd Battery was got through and into action half way through the forest. A section of the 6th (Howitzer) Battery also got into action a little further to the north. About midday an attempt was made to get the remaining guns of the 6th Battery across the temporary bridge which had been constructed. It was a risky business; but the guns and vehicles were got safely over with the loss of one waggon, which went over the side into the stream, rendering the bridge unsafe for further traffic. As a demand had been made for some howitzers and 18-prs. to support a small operation by the 42nd Division, a section of the 5th Battery was sent forward over the forest track, the 9th Battery following the route taken by the advanced section of the 6th Battery, and going into action in the same locality. 

The bridge having been repaired again, with the assistance of some Pioneers of the 42nd Division, the remainder of the guns and waggons of the Brigade were got across by dark, with the exception of two waggons which went over the side, but four others which had attempted to advance through the cross roads on the northern edge of the forest found the way blocked by mine craters. With the exception of the 9th Battery, and one section of the 6th Battery, which were on the northern edge of the forest, the whole of the 2nd Brigade had succeeded in getting into action near la Corne by 7 p.m.

5 November 1918 - through the Forest de Mormal

After the capture of Le Quesnoy, the New Zealand Division were still pressing ahead to the East through the Forest de Mormal. New Zealand Artillery in the Field, 1914-18 reports:

Persistent rain fell on November 5th, rendering doubly difficult the advance through the dense and tangled undergrowth of the forest. Moving forward behind the barrage the infantry encountered little opposition until they reached Forrester's House, considerably more than half way through the forest. This was strongly held by machine guns, but was eventually taken under cover of artillery fire. At 9 a.m. the 3rd Brigade moved forward into positions of readiness near Rue Haute; the 12th Battery was detached from the brigade and went forward in support of the infantry. The 2nd Brigade moved up through Herbignies, and along the western edge of the forest until it reached the 3rd Brigade area. Batteries were in this neighbourhood by 5 p.m., but did not fire that night. The road along the western edge of the forest was in very bad condition, which was rapidly being made worse by the heavy rain. The 1st Battery of the 1st Brigade advanced in support of the infantry, the 3rd and 15th Batteries bivouacking on the edge of the forest. By evening the infantry had gone right through the forest, and reached their final objective on the eastern outskirts. That night the New Zealand Division, less artillery, was relieved in the line by the 42nd Division. The artillery came under the command of the C.R.A., 42nd Division.

The last week of the war

Despite high ideals I have not been following the New Zealand Field Artillery closely in the final months of the war, as the tide turns against the Germans and the New Zealand Division with the other Allies has advanced relatively quickly in recent weeks. I am in the chapter on Le Quesnoy in  New Zealand Artillery in the Field, 1914-18. It is the final chapter. The battle for Le Quesnoy itself took place on 4 November and was over in a day. I do not know if all soldiers would have concurred with the assessment of the official history:

This was the last occasion on which the New Zealand Artillery paved the way for the advance of their infantry in a major operation, and from the complicated nature of the barrage and the masterly precision with which it advanced through all its stages, it may be regarded as a fitting climax to the work of the guns in supporting the infantry in attack. It was known that there was a large number of civilians in Le Quesnoy, and it was therefore decided that the barrage should sweep the ramparts garrisoned by the enemy, and as it moved forward completely encircle the town, but that no fire should fall within the limits of the town itself.... 

The battle which was about to open was destined to be the last of the long series of desperate combats, in which the Division had figured since that distant April morning, when the New Zealanders had first leapt from their boats on to the shores of Gallipoli and climbed the hills to grapple with the Turk. If their arms had not achieved invariable success, each successive engagement had added fresh lustre to the laurels which the New Zealanders had won for themselves in the Gallipoli campaign; and disappointments had been endured with the same calm in which the soldiers viewed their victories.