WHAT DOMINION DID IN GREAT WAR

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21529, 16 December 1939, Page 35 (Supplement)

WHAT DOMINION DID IN GREAT WAR

100,000 Men Were Under Arms BIG PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL POPULATION In the Great War, 1914-1918, New Zealand actuatlly put under arms 11.4 per cent, of the total population (counting men, women and children), and that 50 per cent, of the male population of military age went into camp, by the time of the Armistice. The number of men who had embarked at that date was 100,444 (including 550 nurses) or 9.2 of the total population. The disposition of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on November 12, 1918 was:—

3,573 Total 100,444 “These figures,” observes an official statement, dispose of one point on which there has been a good deal of controversy of a one-sided description —one-sided because the people who considered they could have settled the question could only have done so by disclosing information which would have been on much value to the enemy. It related to the reserve forces existing in England and France. Many people asserted that a huge reserve of men was being built up in England, at the cost of depleting New Zealand industries of man-power. Now it can be seen that the Reserve Group and detached Reserve Units in England on November 12 last totalled 8,765, but of these 716 were c .tegory B and C men (unfit) 1,133 comprised the Permanent Staff at Sling, and other camps; 3,140 were fresh arrivals not physically fit after the long voyage, and with heir advanced training yet to be undertaken. Eliminating these classes there remained 3.776 men available for reinforcements, not an unduly large number when we call to mind that New Zealand casualties at the Somme within three weeks, amounted to 4210 and that the casualties at Passchendaele in nine days fighting totalled 3097. These casualties were exclusive of the ordinary wastage caused through sickness, etc.

Though many are in the secret, it is interesting to be able to publish even some years after the event, that the escort of the 1 Tin Body and first reinforcements which left Wellington in October, 1914, comprised H.M.S. Minotaur, H.M.S. Philomel, H.M.S. Pyramus, H.M.S. Psyche and the Japanese warship Ibuki. The ten ships carrying troops reached Alexandria in 48 days. Reinforcements drafts were sent to Suez until after the Gallipoli campaign, when the transports proceeded to England via Cape of Good Hope until the 29th Reinforcements was despatched. Then the Panama route was used by the majority of the ships.”

43rd Reinforcements Ord portion) and 40th-43rd Mounted Rifles .. .. 1.002 Two Hospital Ships .. 205 Invalids and duty furlough men returning to New Zealand 2,056 — 3,313 In France Strength in field (Division and Tunnelling Company) 18.293 Reinforcements in France 852 Employed other than with Division and Tunnelling Company . .. 2,625 In Hospital 1,632 Convalescents 713 —: — 24,115 In England Reserve Group and Detached Reserve Units Reinforcements) . .. 8,7u<j Command Depot Codford (convalescent or unfit) 2,761 Convalescent Hospital, Hornchurch 5,087 AU other Hospitals in the United Kingdom .. .. 6,197 Headquarters, London, and Postal, Records, Pay and Police Services also details waiting evacuation to New Zealand 657 — 23,467 Killed and died .. .. 16,302 Missing 84 Prisoners 356 Discharged in New Zealand 20,721 In New Zealand not yet discharged 3,294 Discharged in United Kingdom .. .. .. 678 — 41,435 Samoan Exped. Force 96,871 Strength of garrison, Nov. 12, 1918 .. 236 Died 2 Returned to New Zealand 1,841 — 2,079 Other Branches Imperial Reservists . 211 Naval Ranks and Ratings 190 H.M.S. Philomel .. 159 Royal Naval Auxiliary Patrol 190 Royal Flying Corps 192 Postal and Audit Officials 2 Nurses 550