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Regimental History of New Zealand Cyclist Corps in The Great War 1914-1918

Chapter III. — Landing in France—Organisation

page 21

Chapter III.
Landing in France—Organisation.

Throughout the day we travelled, stopping at Orange for lunch. Half-an-hour spell, and on again, halting near Lyons for tea, and next morning at Marcon for breakfast. These halts were at places where all troop trains stopped, and there the L of C (Lines of Communication) had boiling water ready for the making of tea. The population on the Line of Route greeted us with enthusiasm. Shouts of "Vive Australia" were caught up along the line. Our headgear did not appear any different to these people from our cousins over the sea; but still some more intelligent person who had evidently met the "digger" before shouted "Vive Nouvelle-Zelande" and though our knowledge of the French language was limited, we managed "Vive la France." The small boys amused us greatly by running alongside the train shouting "Bully beef, Biscuit," the only two words they knew of the English language, but it was sufficient to fill their contract.

Our journey took us through Lyons, arriving south of Paris at midnight. The second night we skirted Paris via Versailles and were at Epluches, East of Pont Oise, for the morning meal next day; thence to Amiens where we heard the sound of the guns for the first time on the French front, and saw numerous French soldiers, etc.; continuing through Abbeville, halting at Etaples to drop part of our train; thence via Boulogne, Calais and St. Omer to Hazebrouck, where we detrained at 8.0 p.m. on the 19th July; Enquiries elicited the information that we were to go to a village called Sercus, but nobody seemed to know exactly where it was or how far. However, we set out, and by dint of the exercise of limited French, managed to reach our destination by midnight. Progress was very page 22slow as the men were tired and packs were heavy. We were billetted in a large farm with the 2nd Australian Division Cyclist Coy., who made us welcome and did all they could to assist us in shaking down.

Next day the CO. (Major Evans) reported to 2nd Anzac Corps Mounted Regt. (Lieut.-Col. Long) and found that the Regiment consisted of two Squadrons, 4th Australian L.H. and a Squadron of Otago Mounted Rifles under Lieut.-Col. Grigor, D.S.O.

Major Evans, then visited Lieut.-General Sir A. J. Godley, G.O.C., 2nd Anzac Corps, at La Motte, and learned from him that it was intended to form a Corps Cyclist Battalion, which was to onsist of New Zealand and Australian Cyclists; the present New Zealand Company was to be split into two Companies, and that two New Zealand Officers had been selected and trained in Cyclist work and would take command of the Companies. Major Evans was to command the Battalion. The Australian Company was to be reduced to one Company, i.e., half of the old establishment, and the formation of the 2nd Anzac Cyclist Battalion was proceeded with. The Headquarters were to be appointed by Major Evans. The two New Zealand Companies were designated No. 1 Company and No. 2 Company.

The formation of the 2nd Anzac Cyclist Battalion broke up the original Company, and its story ends here. The subsequent history is that of a Battalion.

It must be remembered that one-third of this new Battalion was composed of Australians, and the history of the Battalion, so long as they remained with us, is the history of Australians as well as New Zealanders.