First World War

“When the 28th Reinforcements were on their way from Plymouth to Salisbury Plain, last week, a distressing. accident occurred at the small station of Bere Ferrers, not far from Tavistock. The train had stopped at the station to allow an express to pass, and a number of soldiers, not knowing that the express was due, jumped out of the carriages on the wrong side, on to the permanent way. At that moment the express came along and dashed into them, killing nine outright and injuring three, of whom one (Pte.

On 4 November, the next phase of the Allied advance began with the Battle of the Sambre. The division was tasked with the capture of Le Quesnoy and extending the front line past the town.

“On 11th November [1918] the Division for the most part was concentrated in the Corps rear area at Beauvois and Fontaine. The artillery was preparing to move back through Villereau to Le Quesnoy. The Engineers and Tunnellers, still in the forward areas about Le Quesnoy, were building bridges, repairing roads and erecting baths and laundries.

On the night of the 18-19 November 1917 the SS Aparima whilst sailing to a Welsh port for coaling was torpedoed by UB 40 in the English Channel off Anvil Point. The ship was hit in the stern, where the cabin with 30 cadets was located, and quickly took on water and began sinking by the stern. The crew abandoned ship with many taking to the lifeboats and others leaping directly into the water. Some of the lifeboats failed to clear the sinking ship and were capsized when they were struck by their own davits. Of a total compliment of 110, 54, including 17 cadets, lost their lives.

Tanks move into position ready for their first use in battle in the attack of the following day. Four of the tanks were attached to the New Zealand Division

Thomas Cooke was born in Kaikoura, New Zealand, on 5 July 1881, and lived there until the age of 17. He then moved to Wellington where he worked as a builder. In 1902, he married Maud Elizabeth Elliott and the couple had three children. In 1912, he moved his young family to Australia.

On 16 February 1915, Cooke enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force. He was posted to 24th Battalion in Egypt he was transferred to 8th Battalion. His Victoria Cross was awarded for his actions in the Battle of Pozières in July 1916. He was killed in action on 28 July 1916 during that incident.

“We hear very sad accounts of our men. Before they could dig their trenches, they were swept by fire all along and lost heavily. Col. Stewart was killed on Sunday. Very busy day, but fewer casualties coming in.”

[Fenwick p9]

Douglas Macbean Stewart, 6/1171, Lieutenant Colonel, Canterbury Regiment, KIA 25/04/191

The New Zealand Division moved into the line in the Armentieres Sector with the Divisional Artillery to the south of Armentieres. Although this was considered a “quiet” sector and suitable as nursery for units new to the Western Front, it was not without hostile activity. The German trenches lay, for the most part, some 180 - 270 metres (200 - 300 yards) from the New Zealand trenches although in some places they were as close as a little over 50 metres (60 yards).