N.Z. Army's Close Links With English Regiments

Northern Advocate, 6 September 1947, Page 3

N.Z. Army's Close Links With English Regiments

AFTER the Maori wars and in the latter half of the last century the New Zealand military forces were profoundly influenced by a succession of military experts who visited the Dominion to organise defence measures. These senior officers were members of outstanding English regiments which had centuries of experience behind them. The English units became models for New Zealand.

Just before the Boer War, which began in 1899, there was a marked improvement in the efficiency and organisation of local troops; this was largely due to the thorough inspection and far-reaching recommendations of Colonel F. J. Fox, of the Royal Artillery. From 1896 to 1906, the New Zealand military forces had commanders brought out from England. In addition, many of the officers in New Zealand units came direct from English regiments or they were exsoldier settlers. . FIGHT WITH BRITISH Throughout their history, New Zealand’s military forces have fought alongside English regiments and have frequently operated under British senior commanders

The majority of the NZEF, however, went to France after Gallipoli, and it was the bloody battles of the Somme that really established the New Zealand soldier’s world-wide reputation.

A report from the field stated that “the New Zealand Division was a tower of strength on the right hand and on the left.”

They finally seized all objectives after a desperate struggle lasting for 23 consecutive days. In this struggle, which was one of ,the longest continuous battles in history, 1600 New Zealanders were killed and thousands wounded.

Congratulations on their success poured in from all sides, and the New Zealand soldiers were a centre of admiration wherever they went. ALL IMPORTANT BATTLES

The discipline of the older regiments has been a stabilising influence on the initiative of New Zealanders and directed it into most effective channels. In early times, this outstanding characteristic of initiative tended towards an individualism which has limited uses in large scale warfare. Enthusiasm for soldiering was extremely high at the turn of the century and the authorities were overwhelmed with volunteers who wanted to fight in South Africa.

In France the New Zealanders took part in nearly every important battle, and some units won over 30 battle honours. In addition to the Somme, these battles included such familiar names as Passchendaele, Ypres, Messines, and many others. New Zealanders won 5670 British decorations, and 200 foreign ones; 11 men won the Victoria Cross.

By the end of the Great, war, New Zealand units had records of accomplishments which many old and celebrated regiments would envy.

Many of these who were excluded from the official contingents, paid their own passages to the war, and joined various regiments over there. Hundreds of the selected men were equipped and horsed by public subscription. USED INITIATIVE The New Zealanders, who were the first colonial troops to land in South Africa, took part in many important battles. They quickly established a reputation for their use of the bayonet and for initiative. However, it was the mounted rifles on their New Zealandbred horses, that made the greatest impression on overseas military authorities. The Times “History of the War in South Africa’’ says of the New Zealanders: “It would hardly be an exaggeration to say that after they had a little experience, they were by general consent, regarded as, on the average, the best mounted troops in South Africa.

That New Zealand soldiers had made substantial progress since the Maori Wars, and had built up their own traditions’, was expressed by General Godley when he said in his farewell speech, 30 years ago:— “You will leave behind you a reputation for discipline, fighting qualities, steadiness, resource, initiative, hard work and gentlemanly conduct . . . The NZEF have specially impressed me with the natural capacity of the New Zealander. New Zealand, I am convinced, is able and is destined to play a part in the world out of all proportion to her size and population.’’

FIRST WORLD WAR With the experience of the Boer war behind them, the New Zealand military forces entered the first world war with enhanced confidence. Although the training system by this time had changed from volunteers to compulsory territorials, enthusiasm for unit traditions was stronger than ever. Territorial soldiers who became members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, were permitted to wear their distinctive unit badges because of the pride they showed in the growing traditions. Battle honours won in the Boer War and in the Great War were added to regimental colours, and a strong esprit de corps developed. New Zealand units were allied, and still are, to celebrated English regiments such as the Scots Greys! the Royal Lancers and King’s Own Hussars. GALLIPOLI BATTLE HONOURS With a reputation to uphold, the Gallipoli operation order was well calculated to arouse the fighting spirit of the New Zealand, units, it ran:— “Before us lies an adventure unprecedented in modern war. Together with our comrades of the fleet we are about to face a landing upon an open beach in the face of positions vaunted by our enemy, as impregnable. Let us prove ourselves worthy of the great feat of arms entrusted to us.” The heroism of New Zealanders and quickly gained international recognition as the example par excellence of unit courage. Though other units failed, the Auckland Wellington and Canterbury battalions crossed the celebrated ‘ Daisy Patch” against tremendous odds, and the Auckland Battalion was n early wiped out in the process. ON THE SOMME In 1916 some of the New Zealanders became mounted troops, wth the ANZAC Mounted Division, and fought further desperate battles against the Turks.