WAR JOTTINGS,
NEWS NOTES FROM VARIOUS SOURCES.
"Another long list of ranker promotions appeared in last week's 'Gazette,' the non-commissioned officers and men promoted all having distinguished themselves before the enemy (says "Truth" of November 25th). There was a lot of silly nonsense talked before the war about democratising the Army, but, as I pointed out at the time, as soon as the guns began to shoot, the Army would democratise itself. Sir John French has full powers conferred on him, without having to refer to the Army Council, to promote on the spot any officer, n.c.o., or private soldier to any rank he pleases, provided the man has proved his fitness for promotion by his work in the field. The corner-boy has just the same chance now of coming to the front as the earl, and if this is not democratising the Army, I do not know what is."
Some years ago Master Jack Dunnett, of Kelso, brother of Constable Charles Dunnett, the Christchurch watch-house keeper, was bugler to the Kelso Mounted Rifles, and celebrated as riding the smallest military charger in New Zealand — the well-known Shetland pony Paddy standing 9 3/4 hands. His commander was Colonel Stewart, It is a coincidence that as Lieut. Jack Dunnett, of the No. 1 Battery, the former bugler boy is now in Egypt, his old officer, Colonel Stewart, will soon be there also in charge of the reinforcements. Meantime Paddy remains in Kelso, hale and hearty, aetat thirty. -Press, 18/1/1915.
Personal Items
Lieut. Jack Dunnett, of Invercargill, who left with the Main Body as a member of the N.Z.F.A., and went through the Gallipoli campaign from landing to evacuation, was promoted to the rank of captain on January 25. The promotion took place on one of the French battlefields. -Dominion, 14/1/1917.
The Tapanui Courier reports that Captain Jack Dunnet, writing on 12th December, says: We are right back in the thick of things, after having been in rest for four weeks — the best spell we have ever had, but after the last big stunt it was well deserved, as it was the worst six weeks since we have been in France. Really no one has any idea as to the actual conditions. Heavy fighting and mud up to the bellies of the horses, and it was a terrible job packing ammunition. But still we got through. Really our drivers are the most splendid men in the world. As parade men — rotten; but say, "Here, you go and do four trips to-day,” and under any conditions they’ll get through. We have nothing to learn from the English, Canadians, Australians, or even the Yanks. The artillery here is magnificent, and it’s no more or less than hell when let loose. We are at present in the most desolate place in the world, and living in the old Hun pill boxes is not a joke by any stretch of imagination. I wouldn’t be a farmer in Flanders after the war for all the tea in China, as the place is full of unexploded metal, and when ploughing a chap will strike one of these affairs, and that’s the last they’ll ever see or hear of him. A modern battlefield is a sight for sore eyes, and unless actually seen one could never realise that such a thing could exist. -Southland Times, 1/3/1918.
Personals
Official advice was received in Christchurch yesterday that Captain Jack Dunnet, No. 1 Battery, New Zealand Field Artillery, had died of wounds received in the heavy fighting on the Western front. Captain Dunnet was 29 years of age, and left with the Main Body, with the rank of lieutenant. He saw service throughout the Gallipoli campaign, and then returned to New Zealand on sick leave. In three weeks he left again to rejoin his battery in France. Previous to enlistment, Captain Dunnet was employed as an auctioneer by Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co., Invereargill. He has a brother, Driver O. Dunnet, serving in a battery in France, and another brother is Constable C. Dunnet, in charge of the Darfield Police Station. His mother resides at Kelso in Southland. -Sun, 16/4/1918.
Jack Dunnett died in a Canadian field hospital after being wounded in the preliminary bombardment for the opening of the German spring offensive. They were using new tactics - not firing ranging shots but accurately measuring the individual trajectory of each of their artillery pieces and firing using map coordinates, sending down sudden a concentration of fire from the start. Allied artillery was one of their chief objectives for the opening of battle, as well as communications behind the lines. The object was to seal off the area to be attacked by troops and then to shell trench lines prior to the main infantry assault. The NZ Field Artillery's Official History refers to heavy shelling of their positions starting on March 19 and necessitating removal to temporary positions and then, on April 6th, moving to a different sector to relieve an Australian artillery unit.
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