Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War 1918 ‘Battle of the Lys - Meteren operations’ D.C.M. awarded to Company Sergeant Major W. J. Pauling, 2nd Entrenching Battalion, Otago Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, who was also twice wounded during the course of the war - 8 August 1915 and 9 June 1917

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (8-1594 Sjt:- T. C. S. Mjr:- W. J. Pauling. 2/N.Z. Entrenching Bn:) lacquered, edge bruise, good very fine £700-£900

D.C.M. London Gazette 30 August 1919. The original recommendation states:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When his company took over a line of detached posts exposed to enemy snipers and heavy machine gun fire, he took charge of the three leading platoons and successfully posted them under most difficult circumstances. His cheerfulness and courage set a fine example to his men.’

Walter James Pauling was born in Ashburton, New Zealand in May 1892. He attested for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in January 1915. Pauling served in the Egyptian and Gallipoli theatres of war, and on the Western Front with the 1st and 3rd Battalions of the Otago Regiment. He was twice wounded in action - 8 August 1915 and 9 June 1917.

Pauling advanced to Temporary Company Sergeant Major, and was serving with the 2nd Entrenching Battalion, Otago Regiment for the award of his D.C.M. The latter being awarded for operations at Meteren, 16 April 1918, as part of the Battle of the Lys:

‘While neither Battalion of the Otago Regiment was concerned with this new offensive... the 2nd New Zealand Entrenching Battalion became deeply involved in certain of its stages. This formation was comprised of reinforcements for Otago and Canterbury Regiments, and was established, along with the 1st and 3rd Entrenching Battalions, under the New Zealand Divisional Wing, which in turn was incorporated in the organisation of the 2nd Army under the name of the 2nd Army Entrenching Group. In the two Otago Companies of the 2nd Entrenching Battalion were men who had at one time or another been active members of either the 1st, 2nd or 3rd Battalions of the Otago Regiment in the Field, while others were reinforcements who would sooner or later in the ordinary course of events have been drafted to the Regiment.

The activities of the Entrenching Battalions were directed to the construction of rear defences, road formation and repair, tunnelling, cable-laying, etc. Some of this work was of a very heavy nature; but throughout the whole course of operations, and whatever the conditions, the Entrenching Battalions established a high and lasting reputation for their great working ability.

The troops of the 2nd Entrenching Battalion established to the right of Meteren withstood the attack at that point and inflicted severe losses on the enemy; but the collapse of the line to the left and the fall of Meteren ultimately forced a withdrawal. Subsequent to the enemy’s occupation of Meteren, half the strength of the 1st Company of Otago, which linked up with Canterbury on the right of the line, was forced to withdraw to new positions in rear of the village. From this point Lieut. J. R. Leys (commanding the 1st Company of Otago) and 2nd Lieut. J. McGregor (platoon commander) moved out with a small party with the object of destroying an enemy machine gun post a short distance to their front. The position proved to be too strongly held, and although the party succeeded in reaching it objective and made a gallant attempt to overwhelm it, the enterprise was unsuccessful. 2nd Lieutenant McGregor was killed, and Lieut. Leys mortally wounded at the moment shooting down one of the crew of the gun....

On the following morning, on relief, the troops marched out to Berthen, and from there proceeded to Abeele, where the remnant of the 2nd Entrenching Battalion was assembled.... The casualties of the 2nd Entrenching Battalion in the Meteren operations totalled two officers and 40 other ranks killed, nine officers and 139 other ranks wounded, and 210 other ranks officially reported as prisoners of war. For fine qualities of leadership displayed during the difficult period of the Meteren operations, Sergts. W. P. Morrin, M.M., and W. J. Pauling were recommended and awarded the D.C.M.’ (Regimental History by Lieutenant A. E. Byrne, M.C. refers)

Pauling returned to New Zealand in May 1919, and was discharged, 6 June 1919. He died in Auckland, 16 May 1936.

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