Transcript

1st. BATTALION. 3rd, NEW ZEALAND RIFLE BRIGADE.

NARRATIVE OF OPERATIONS on 15th, and 16th, SEPTEMBER 1916.

Pursuant to Brigade Order No. 31 the Battalion moved to its assembly trenches PONT STREET - PEAR TRENCH on the night of 14th-15th,Sept, and was in position at 10.30 p.m.
At Zero time on the 15th,Sept, the advance of the Brigade commenced, the 1st.Battalion moving on the 4th, objective as per Battn, Order attached.
Artillery formation was maintained generally and the advance continued steadily up to a point slightly in the rear of the 3rd, objective. At this point the left leading Company and left supporting Company came under Machine Gun fire and suffered many casualties. The 3rd.Battalion was in difficulties from the same cause and a party from "D" Company 1st.Battalion went forward and with some 3rd.Battalion men bombed the enemy machine gun out.
The left leading company and the left supporting company were now getting mixed and becoming involved with the 3rd,Battalion.
The advance continued against opposition and under rifle, machine gun and shell fire to a line running through ABBEY ROAD to the right of cross roads at M36 b64. Here the leading Companies halted to reorganise. The 2nd.Battalion under Capt.Brydon was then consolidating immediately NORTH of ABBEY ROAD. A small party of about 40 EAST SURREYS were just to the right of the road junction at N36 a26. The officer in charge of the party undertook to establish a strong post NORTH of FLERS near COX, so as to furnish a defensive flank for our advance. No other troops were on our right.
Time 10.50 a.m. The left leading Company then advanced to occupy GROVE TRENCH in M30d. The right leading Company also moved off, the whole line being under machine gun fire from the high ground at M30a and at M25 a70. The enemy (about 200) was seen hurridly leaving from the vicinity of GROVE ALLEY and making off N.W.
The lines advanced got into GROVE ALLEY and secured 2 field guns one of which was being served.
The supporting companies which had lost their Officers and got somewhat mixed were then passing the N.W. end of FLERS. Patrols sent along GROVE ALLEY to the S.W. reported numbers of the enemy in the trench and no troops could be seen on thr right flank.
The part of East Surreys left to hold the right flank had disappeared, leaving that flank entirely open. The enemy was then advancing from the N.E.
The Officer Commanding right leading Company withdrew after damaging the captured guns and started to consolidated on the line from COX TRENCH to ABBEY ROAD at M36 b55. The 2nd.Battalion held X ABBEY ROAD. The Battn.Reserve came up and assisted by prolonging and bending back the line to the right. All troops in the vicinity were organised into working parties and were subsequently put in the new trenches.
A Tank took post on the road at about N31 a72 and materially strengthened the line.
At about 3.30 p.m. troops from the Division on our right advanced to FLEA TRENCH and joined up. At 7.30 p.m. these troops withdrew leaving our flank again bare. When this was discovered a composite party from all Companies that had been collected during the afternoon and posted in FORT TRENCH was sent forward and the 2nd.W.I.M also supplied a party for that flank.
The 2nd.WIM. then relieved the 2nd.Battalion in ABBEY ROAD. At about 9 a.m. on the 16th. the enemy made a weak counter-attack which was driven off. At 9.30 a.m. the 1st.Auckland Regt advanced through our line and retook GROVE ALLEY.
Our positions were taken over by the 1st.Canterbury Battalion at 10.30 p.m.