THE FIRST N.Z.E.F

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 258, 1 November 1939, Page 5

THE FIRST N.Z.E.F

MEMORIES OF THE LEAVING OF THE MAIN BODY WANGANUI FAREWELLS (By ”10/410.”) The second war with German has, no doubt, caused many an old “Digger” to look back a quarter of a century and draw some comparisons with his day and the present. Events moved more swiftly 25 years ago. A powerful Germai naval squadron was in the Pacific and German territory with good anchorage at. rhe harbour of Apia, as well as a powerful wireless station, was only a week's sail from the Dominion. On August 6 New Zealand was asked by the Imperial Government to seize Samoa. A force of 55 officers and 1358 other ranks volunteered from territorial units at Auckland and Wellington and left Wellington on August 15, just nine days later, transports H.M.N.Z.T. Nos. 1 and 2 (Maeraki and Monowai) being the ships to take the first lot of troops away from the Dominion. The force occupied Samoa on August 29. The next day the New Zealand Government offered an expeditionary force to serve in any part of the world just the same as the present has done. Recruiting for the force commenced immediately, being confined to members of its Territorial force, those with previous military experience and lastly those with no experience in army life. At the same time ten suitable ships then in New Zealand were taken over by the Government and work commenced immediately fitting them out as transports. The ships were:—H.M.N.Z.T. No. 3, Maunganui; H.M.N.Z.T. No. 4. Tahiti; H.M.N.Z.T. No. 5, Ruapehu; H.M.N.Z.T. No. 6, Orari; H.M.N.Z.T. No. 7. Limerick; H.M.N.Z.T. No. 8, Star of India; H.M.N.Z.T. No. 9, Hawke’s Bay; H.M.N.Z.T. No. 10, Arawa; H.M.N.Z.T. No. 11. Athenic; H.M.N.Z.T. No. 12, Waimana. Transports Nos. 4 and 11 had the Canterbury quotas; Nos. 5 and 9, Otago; Nos. 8 and 12, Auckland; Nos. 3. 6. 7, 10 had the Wellington quota.

which included all the specialist and headquarters of the N.Z.E.F. on the Maunganui. Recruiting for the force opened in Wanganui a few days after war was declared. There were many disappointed Territorials in the 7th Regiment, who found the age was 20 years. One must admit the number of young men offering stands out rather conspicuously when figures are compared with to-dav. The first draft to leave Wanganui did so on August 13. There were two officers and 34 other ranks. As far as I can recollect the officers were Captain J. Cameron and Lt. F. K. Turnbull (now Lt.-Col. Turnbull. D. 5.0.). The annual ball of B Coy. was fixed for the 13th and arrangements were made for anv who desired to remain behind for the ball. The majority remained and came into eamp next day. The ball was a great success and a handsome profit was made, the proceeds being handed over to the Belgium relief fund. Parade of Advance Party 'the advance party paraded at the Drill Hall at 11 a.m. and after the roll was checked the men broke off for 'about twenty minutes and spent the time with relatives and friends. I don't think it was generally known that the first draft of men were leaving town. There were not many people about. The news soon spread and by 11.40 a.m., when headed by the Garrison Band we marched down the Avenue, the city turned out and gave us a send-off. The railway station had a “capacity house.” When the Wellington express reached Aramoho it was packed with khaki. The whole of the Taranaki contingent must, have been on the train. The trams must have done well, too, as the station was crowded with local people. By the time we reached Palmerston West Coast had : added a few more to their number and the size of the contingent was quite respectable when we detrained.

We were the first lot of infantry from the 7th and 11th Regiments tc reach camp but already men frorr every unit of the Wellington quote were there. Everybody was in khak: as practically all men came from the Territorial force. I did not see any civilian volunteers at. all. If there were any they had been fitted out by the regiments they joined before leaving for camp. The only men in civilian clothes at Awapuni were in a company of British Army reservists. These men were representatives . of famous British regiments, tne Household Cavalry and the Guards Brigade among them. Organising the Wellington infantry Battalion did not take long and was a simple job. The men had only been away from military life a few months. The annual training camp tnat year was held in May at Takapau. The whole Central Command was under canvas. Each unit must have been within a small percentage of its strength. There were very few of the Territorial Infantry Brigade for the casual camp. General Sir lan Hamilton perhaps did not realise that many mon he inspected at Takapau would be serving under him in less tnan 12 months’ time and there were many in that camp did not know they would be Anzacs. We carried out battalion and brigade training and the experience gained was not lost a few months later. The Territorial camp came to an end on May 11 so there was just a gap of three months to our arrival in our first war camp. On August 21 the last contingent left Wanganui. A few days later the battalion was at war strength under command of Lt.-Colonel W. G. Malone (11th Taranaki Regiment). Major Hart, now Governor of Samoa, was second in command. He came from the 17th Ruahine Regiment. Captain McDonnell, N.Z.S.C., was adjutant. All will remember “H£ll-fire Mac.” The R.S.M. was Sergt-Major Parkes, Grenadier Guards. I cannot recall an occasion that he did not have a little red book with him. He was every inch a soldier and could read the regulations backwards but when referred to was careful to quote it exact para and had the book with him as a support. Wellington Battalion The Wellington Battalion had one company from each regiment of J he Territorial Infantry Brigade. A Coy. (7th Wellington West Coast) was commanded by Major W. Cunningham. B Coy. (9th Hawke’s Bay) v.-n-i commanded by Major J. R. Young (who became G.O.C. N.Z. Forces after the war, C Coy. (11th Taranaki) was

commanded by Major Brunt and D Coy. (17th Ruahine) was commanded by Major Saunders. The machine-gun section (four guns) was in charge of Lt. Wilson (9tn Hawke’s Bay). Signallers, pioneers and transports were in charge of N.C.O’s. The R.Q.M.S. was S./M. Dallinger, N.Z.P.S. Capt. Webb, of New Plymouth, was, I think, medical officer, rhe battalion had a strength of 33 officers and 977 other ranks, and the first reinforccm< 1 . The six weeks at Awapuni were strenuous. We were on the go from 5.30 a.m. till dark and on several occasions had night training. It. was rare to have mid-day meal in camp. Twice we marched io “Hyden,” the property of Mr. Johnston. On one occasion we were visited by Sir Harry Lauder, who sang two songs for us, “Roaming in the Gloaming” and "I Love a Lassie.” He satisfied himself we could not get leave to hear him in Palmerston first. Business is business. On another occasion we marched to Feilding and back. We had a wonderful reception and a committee of ladies put on a wonderful spread, a hungry battalion devouring all the food. The day after Palmerston North entertained us in the Square. It was a tired battalion that marched through the gate well after dark that evening. There were not many lights going at “lights out.” We did our musketry at Hokowhitu rifle range. Those not actually on the firing point spent the day usefully. There was no sitting down. Last Nigiht at Palmerston Few of us realised that September 22 would be our last night at Palmerston North and the last night we would sleep under canvass in New Zealand. Long troop trains backed into the Awapuni siding the next day and Jong before Palmerston was astir troops were en route to Wellington and the ships. Everything worked to the clock. Certainly nobody knew we were on the move. We detrained at Thorndon and marched to the transports. I can recall passing only two young women cn route to the wharves. They got all the attention

and no doubt remember the occasion still. Embarkation was a simple affair. We just went straight to our allotted place, put our equipment in the bunk and went back on to the wharf and I got our kit-bags. Leave was granted to midnight and the streets of Wellington were reminiscent of a garrison town, a scene the city got very familiar with during the next four years. September 24 was the official sendoff at the Newtown Park. It must have been a public holiday. The place was packed. Troops marched through crowded streets to Newtown. Here those in the front ranks heard speeches telling us how soon we would be back. Few realised that the fields of Egypt, Gallipoli, France, Belgium and Palestine lay ahead. The march back to the troopships was a good one, but it came on to rain. However, there were plenty of bands and the tramp of marching feet is fascinating. The Ships Were Recalled We all thought when we went on board the ships that night it was our last in New Zealand. All the transports pulled out into the stream. The roll was called and after tea we spent the evening till “lights out” looking across the harbour at movement ashore. The next morning we sailed but only back to the wharf, where we stayed for nearly three weeks. The infantry camped on the ships—so our last night at Awapuni was really our last in a New Zealand camp. Finally on October 16, 1914, we sailed. Escorted by H.M.S. Minotaur and S.J.D. Ituki and the Pyramus and Philomel. There are still many old Diggers who will recall that morning. Mount Victoria was black with people and many white handkerchiefs were fluttering. I recall the i feeling of the ship moving and going i on deck just in time to see great | columns of black smoke being belched ■ into the air by the two big cruisers i who were passing out to sea and the ten transports with the Main Body following in single line. Vve had started on the great adventure.