5TH REINFORCEMENTS

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 219, 16 September 1939, Page 9 (Supplement)

STH REINFORCEMENTS

Recollections Of The Tahiti

r AN interesting souvenir of the voyage of the R.M.S. Tahiti, Transport No. 25, which took the sth Reinforcements from Wellington on June 13, 1915, is a four-paged cardboard leaflet printed on the ship itself by L. Brown, the ship's printer. It details the activities on the ship from the date of leaving until they arrived in Bombay on July I 6.

h htartst' Hlwrtli wmOm pnvailed when Hi* fitt Hot Zealand Reinforcement* Mi WriMiin)ii lor the front. Saturday, Jma 13, mar the froo|« and horses embark on the three transports, Tahiti, Maangamri and Aparimn. In spite of the downpour, a huge crowd assembled on the wharf to eheer tlmse who had nobly offered their services to their country. The ships Anchored In the stream and sailed the next morning (Sunday) at 6.30 a.in., thus leaving the land that some might never see again. The Tahiti bad en board 21 officers, 750 men and 360 horses. Wellington to Albany

"Boisterous weather was experienced outside and the troops began to feel the exhilaration of the mighty ocean. The •weather continued to be very rough, and what with losing a few horses and half the troops seasick (not feeling as brave as they did when they left the wharf), the aspect was no&e too cheerful. However, after a few days, the men's messrooms began to fill up again and everybody was beginning to make themselves quite at home.

"June 20 brought lis to our first port of eail, Albany. Unbounded pleasure greeted the announcement that general leave would be given from 12 a.m. to 12 p.m. After the somewhat tiresome journey from New Zealand, everybody was pleased to walk on land again.

"A stranger entering the usually little town of Albany on June 20 would moet certainly have mistaken the place for a military base. Crowds of New Zealand troops were parading up and down the main streets and 'bombardins' shops of every description, purchasing any article that might add to their comfort through the long journey they had to The behaviour while on leave gives great credit to the country from which they came, and the Australians conkl not help but admire the friendly spirit they all possessed.

"On Tuesday morning, June 29, we left Albany for our next port, Colombo. Tho following day the Maunganui re-

ceived orders to proceed direct to Egypt, leaving the other two ships behind. A few days' sailing brought us to the Tropic of Capricorn, which we entered on July 3 at 11 a.m. The weather was now rather warm and the troops were removing their beds on to the deck or on top of the horse boxes. The band, which ha« done exceedingly well during the short time that they have been formed, gave us several afternoon entertainments on the poop deck. The concert element on board is distinctly lacking, seeing that there have been no such functions held ae yet. Perhaps the wwather is too warm for the vocal talent to risk their voices in. Those of a pugilistic turn of mind have made a bit of a start by attempting to alter the design of each other's faces, much to the amusement of the spectators. "The equator was crossed on July 10 at 3 a.m., and several persons were known to feel the world-renowned bump. "Monday, July 12, brings us to the muoh-talked-of town of Colombo, after a very warm but enjoyable trip from Albany. Various descriptions of this place were given by would-be globe trotters, and everybody was keen to get ashore and judge for themselves. Colombo to Bombay "Imagine the disappointment the troops received when they were informed that no leave would be granted at Colombo. The city authorities thought it advisable not to let the troops ashore on account of there previously having been very serious riots between the Mahommedans and the Cingalese. In any case, time would not have permitted leave, because we received orders to sail for Bombay the same evening at six o'clock. The Aparima also sailed at 2. p.m. for Madras. Great arguments have arisen as to whether these two ports will be the destination of the sth New Zealand Reinforcement®. At the time of the publication of this souvenir H is not known definitely whether they will disembark at Bombay or go on to Egypt. The horses will most certainly be put ashore at Bombay on account of tneir not being wanted on the Peninsula. The three ships which left Wellington on Jnne 13 for apparently the same destination axe now in different parte of the world. "Nothing of note happened on the way to Bombay. After a very pleasant trip of four days we arrived there at noon on July 10." A memorandum on the bottom states that a vacant space is to be filled in l»y the owner if the troops did not disembark at Bombay.