DIVISIONAL PRESS

Korero (AEWS), Volume 2, Issue 4, 28 February 1944, Page 28

DIVISIONAL PRESS

Mobile Printing Unit in Last War

Printing presses with the forces in forward areas are not uncommon in this war. Men who have served in the Pacific and in the Middle East will be familiar with publications produced by the Army for the troops in these theatres of war. In the last war, the New Zealand Division had a mobile printing outfit for printing Divisional Orders and anything else “ from a louse ticket to a short catalogue.” A. B. Clark, who established this mobile press, tells about it in this article, reprinted from “A History of Printing in New Zealand.” WE WERE AT FLEURBAIX, and at six a.m. I had come in from the “ listening post ” after a night of vigil in the cold, cold snow. I was hailed with the greeting : “ Hey, Nugget, you have to go down to Divisional Headquarters for the duration.” My disbelief was cut short by a sergeant who advised me to have a shave and “ get

gomg. Two hours later I appeared at La ventie, and was immediately brought before General Russell, Lieutenant-Colonel H. G. Reid (Assistant-Ad and Quarter-master-General) and other officers. After some preliminary questioning LieutenantColonel Reid explained that the Divisional Officers desired to have a printing outfit, and asked me what would be the size and cost of a plant. I estimated and the assistance of four men. This was agreed to, and the four men were sorted out.

This business completed and a list of' my requirements drawn up, I was instructed to proceed to London the next day, and on arrival at the city to call on Brigadier-General Richardson, who' might give me some assistance. It was eight p.m. when I arrived at the paymaster’s office, and the following conversation took place : — “ Don’t you know this office closes at four p.m. ? ” Yes, sir, but I have just received my instructions.’’ “ Where’s your pay-book ? ” This was produced and elicited that there as no credit. “ There’s nothing to come,’’ said the paymaster. “ Well, I cannot accumulate on is. a day.” “ I suppose you will have to have' some cash, here is £10.” Subsequently the officers gave me another £lO, which was both welcome and appreciated. On arrival in London I proceeded to Brigadier-General Richardson’s office. He was very hazy about the business, saying : “ I do not know where you are going to obtain this stuff, whether from the pawnbroker, the bank, or the dump ; but you had better get it.” Armed with authority my next call was to Stephenson, Blake, Ltd., where I secured a new Arab platen, three series of type eight to thirty-six point, coat-of-arms, and various other items neces-

sary. My mission was now completed, but before I could return to headquarters I received a cable to remain in England and hunt up some cases of goods that had gone astray and were urgently needed at the Front. It took six weeks to find these goods, the last case turning up at Ashley. On my return to Boulogne I discovered that my printing-plant had disappeared. Frantic questioning in bad French elicited nothing more tangible than four contradictory alternatives. Finally the Admiralty informed me that the ship had gone back to Folkstone without putting in to Boulogne on account of the Germans laying mines during a fog. This, however, was also incorrect, for when I arrived at Divisional Headquarters wondering how they would take the story of the delay, I was surprised to find that the plant had preceded me and the staff were already at work. In this fashion the only mobile printing outfit in the Great War of 1914-18 came into being. The printing-plant was first set up in a shed in the beautiful grounds of a lovely chateau. This did not last, unfortunately, and we were shifted about all over the line, sometimes in snow and mud. In some places we only stayed a day, but always so long as the New Zealand Division was in the line we were with them. Sometimes we occupied a partlydemolished building, or a stable, or a conservatory, any old place at all. On one occasion we set type in the open air. Only once did we miss the Orders. This was at Ypres when the troops left Passchendaele. All transport was urgently required, and our truck was commandeered. Stranded on the banks

of the canal we printers were accompanied by the Sanitary Squad, a SergeantMajor, and the cook. We were there three days, and picked up the division at Haasebrook. In addition to Orders we printed everything from a “ Louse Ticket ” to a short catalogue. Life on the press was not without its exciting moments. On one occasion just prior to the Battle of Messines we were billeted at Westhoef Farm, together with members of the headquarters staff, when one night a stray shell burst in our midst, killing half a dozen and wounding a like number. For the rest of our stay there we slept out in the open. At Ypres, too, we had another shock. Just as the lorry with the plant arrived at the back of the canal, plomp came a shell, which, fortunately, landed in the mud. I interviewed the Colonel to ascertain if we were to carry on, and he replied “ Certainly.” Everybody else was under cover. We occupied an old building with two walls demolished, and put up scrim to keep out the light on the open side. We started to print Routine Orders when a Major’s body was passed through the printery to the sand-bagged dressing shed at the back. The Ford driver had switched on the lights to negotiate a corner at Ypres and a Fritz airman had got him. Through having their own press the New Zealand Division had this advantage: Once the appointments and promotions were printed and published the positions and salaries became effective immediately. General Godley, who had his Orders printed in London, was always a fortnight behind the Division.