German counter attacks

“With dawn on the 27th the enemy endeavoured to resume his advance and extend the Serre gap southwards. After the rude checks of the previous evening, infiltration methods were abandoned in favour of violent assaults. His artillery was moved up and was to be consistently active throughout the day on Mailly-Maillet Courcelles Hédauville and Colincamps. For all their recent marching and fighting the Germans were not yet exhausted. Attack followed attack, for beaten back at one point the enemy's infantry was remorselessly launched at another.”

These attacks were repulsed until in the evening of that day …

“Foiled at each flank as on the Serre Road, the enemy struck at 7 p.m. at the 2nd Wellington position, 1500 yards long, midway between the refinery and Hébuterne. Here he scored his only success. The reserve company counterattacked, killing about 80 and capturing 5 machine guns, but could not restore the situation over the whole battalion front. The left company had been forced back 500 yards from the Hébuterne Road.” [Excerpt From: Col. H. Stewart. “The New Zealand Division 1916 - 1919: A Popular History Based on Official Records.”]

Dates: 
Wednesday, March 27, 1918
Media Image: 
Caption: 
The ruined buildings along the main street of Hebuterne, France. Photograph taken in May 1918.
Source: 
Source: Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington: Ref: 1/2-013191-G
Casualty Flag: 
No
Conflict: 
Group: 
Western Front and England

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