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New Zealand and Le Quesnoy

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

The liberation of Le Quesnoy

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

The New Zealand Division's most successful day

The capture of the French town of Le Quesnoy by the New Zealand Division on 4 November 1918 has special significance in New Zealand's military history. This is not merely because it was the last major action by the New Zealanders in the Great War – the armistice followed a week later – but also because of the particular way it was captured.

Visiting Le Quesnoy - New Zealand and Le Quesnoy

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

New Zealand history in Le Quesnoy

Just 4 kilometres east of Beaudignies in northern France is Le Quesnoy. This town was in German hands for almost all of the First World War, from August 1914 until the New Zealanders liberated it on 4 November 1918.

The town grew around a strategically located 12th-century castle. Interestingly, in light of the events of 1918, the Count of Zealand was one of the castle's residents. The fortifications were periodically improved or extended until late into the 19th century when developments in artillery rendered them obsolete. They were not subsequently destroyed, though the town suffered damage in both world wars; the belfry, for example, was destroyed in 1918, rebuilt, then destroyed again in 1940.

Battle accounts, Lieutenant Averill - New Zealand and Le Quesnoy

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

Leslie Averill remembers the Le Quesnoy attack

Leslie Cecil Lloyd Averill was born on 25 March 1897. He volunteered for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in 1916 and left New Zealand with the 34th Reinforcements two years later. He was posted as a second lieutenant in the 3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade at Brocton camp. Averill was awarded a Military Cross for exceptional gallantry and fine leadership during the assault on Bapaume in August 1918. The exploit for which he is best remembered took place during the liberation of Le Quesnoy on 4 November 1918, which he describes below.

Battle accounts, Private Nimmo - New Zealand and Le Quesnoy

Thu, 01 Jan 1970 12:00:00 +1200

James Nimmo describes the Le Quesnoy attack

Captain James Matheson Nimmo was born on 22 September 1897. When he enlisted in 1917, he omitted his first Christian name for obvious reasons. He left New Zealand with the 37th Reinforcements in May 1918 and, after further training in England, he joined the 3rd Battalion, 3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade on 27 September 1918. He took part in the final operations and the occupation of Cologne and was repatriated in 1919. He lived in Ngapara until shortly before his death in 1979.

This is the scheme of the operations as far as I can see it. We were after an old French fortified town completely surrounded by water and having only two entrances. One mob of NZ'ers went round one side, and another went round the other. In doing so they were to leave a triangle 1500 yards long untouched. This triangle was our real job. Up to where this piece started we were only in support. Before going through this piece we had a spell and it was there that I got time to read my letters. I'll make my comments on them again. The whole of the 1500 yards proved to be a series of orchards. Fences through which holes had to be chopped were very numerous. We had no trouble until the finish and we struck a machine gun there. Had just about got into position to bomb them out when another mob of our boys came round from the other side of the town to connect up with us. They were right on Jerrie before he saw them and he surrendered immediately. That was our job finished and we moved back and took up a position outside one of the entrances. The position at this stage was that we had surrounded the town, gone miles past it and were still advancing. Jerrie was still in the town. He hadn't time to be anywhere else, as I suppose he was surrounded 2 hours after we started.