TWO SUCCESSFUL RAIDS
NORTH OTAGO BOYS DECORATED.
GENERAL BYNG'S CONGRATULATIONS.
A message received by the officer commanding the Tenth (North Otago) Company of the 1st Battalion, Otago Regiment, from General Byng, stated: "Please convey my congratulations to all ranks concerned in successful captures yesterday." The Brigade Commander, in forwarding this message, after conveying his own congratulations, adds: "There is a fine spirit in the company, and I am proud to command such men." Details of the operations are as follow:
FIRST RAID.
On 5/6/18 8/2666 Corporals P. T. Moir and 36585 D. Falls, of 10th (North Otago) 1st Battalion. Otago Regiment, crept out into "No Man's Land" with the object of capturing a prisoner out of an enemy post which it was expected was not strongly held. On getting near the post the two n.c.o.'s took advantage of a few moments when the sentry was not looking over the top and rushed the post. Though they had the sentry at their mercy at once, he gave the alarm and tried to escape. A shot from a revolver wounded him; but the alarm had been given, and bombs were at once thrown, at that end of the post from all parts of the post, which was held by over 20 of the enemy. Corporal Falls started back with the wounded sentry, and, notwithstanding the danger he was in, Corporal Moir rushed into a small dug-out, where he could see one of the enemy, and, bringing out his man, started back for our line among a hail of bombs and some rifle fire. An enemy bomb killed the wounded prisoner just at our wire. On this happening Corporal Falls turned round and emptied his magazine (rifle) at the enemy to cover Corporal Moir's retreat. Corporal Falls got shot through the arm, but got in, and Corporal Moir got in safely with his prisoner, who afterwards gave valuable information. Both n.c.o.'s have been awarded the Military Medal. This raid was carried out early in the afternoon on a fine, bright day.
SECOND RAID.
About 10 a.m. on June 6, 1918, a sergeant, a corporal, and four privates of 10th (N. O.) Company, 1st Battalion, Otago Regiment, went out across "No Man's Land" with the object of bringing in a prisoner. On reaching the enemy trench they noticed two sentries, and were working along the trench to overpower them when they came on some small dug-outs. Posting two men to watch a communication trench, they entered the dug-outs, and captured seven prisoners. Though quite close to the enemy sentries the whole party, with the seven prisoners, managed to get away and return safely to our trenches without a shot being fired. The sergeant and corporal were each awarded the Military Medal. Below is a list of those who took part in this raid: — 22114 Sergeant J. Scott, M.M., 34931 Corporal J. T. Stewart, M.M., 59016 Private J. Kirkwood, 20968 Private G. Clark, 9/1418 Private W. T. Falconer, 13427 Private W Taylor.
[Corporal Moir, who has since been promoted to sergeant, and awarded the D.C.M. for another exploit, is a son of Mr Thomas Moir, of Clarksville.] -Otago Witness, 13/11/1918.
On the afternoon of June 5th Corporal Moir and Lance-corp. Falls, of 10th Company, left our trenches for the enemy lines, and surprised and entered a German post to the left of La Signy Farm. The enemy sentry was engaged perusing his correspondence, and paid the penalty of his remissness by being captured, along with one other German. A shower of bombs assailed the party as it commenced the return journey, and Lance-corp. Falls was wounded and one of the prisoners PAGE 299killed. The remaining prisoner was safely brought in to our post at Central Avenue. At 10 o'clock on the following morning a second party from 10th Company raided the enemy's lines at a point still further to the left, and met with remarkable success. The raiding party, which comprised Sergt. Scott, Corporal Stewart, and four other ranks, worked its way along the shelter of a hedge line, crossed the wire entanglements, and then suddenly jumped into an enemy post. Two Germans were surprised and captured. A search of some bivouacs 15 yards further along the trench yielded an additional five prisoners. The party then made its way back and reached our lines without casualties, and with only a single shot being fired at it. The effect produced on the German moral by these several incursions into his lines in broad daylight by parties of the two Battalions, and the impunity with which his garrisons were being carried off, can well be imagined, to say nothing of the information and identification which the prisoners afforded. During the afternoon of the 6th, following upon information obtained from the prisoners, a bombardment by 4.5in. howitzers and heavy trench mortars was directed against the enemy posts, and considerable material damage occasioned at points where machine guns were reported to be located.
Joseph Scott had already won the Military Medal by the time he took part in the raid. It was reported in July, 1918 and his records show he won it for "acts of gallantry in the field" - in 1917, as in other years of the war, there was plenty of scope for acts of gallantry.
Joseph Scott's burial record shows his occupation as "retired" - retired from what, I do not know. But there must have been something about him, to the end of his life, to inspire the epitaph "A soldier to the end."
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