On the morning of 12th August, from Buckle Street drill hall, went forth New Zealand's pioneers in the Great War, to embark on the waiting transports. Turning into Cuba Street, heralded by the band, they were soon attended by a cheering crowd, which grew larger and more enthusiastic as the news of their approach preceded the troops through the city.

Shops were deserted, windows and balconies and all possible vantage points suddenly became animated, and for the remainder of the march the column of khaki was bordered by dense masses of people.

The transports, the S.S. "Moeraki" and "Monowai," now known as H.M. Transports Nos. 1 and 2 respectively, lay at the King's Wharf, and with little delay and in good order the troops embarked.

Enthusiasm reached its height about 7 p.m. when, with night throwing its shadows over the port, the transports moved from the wharf. This was the signal for what was believed to be the final farewell between the troops aboard, and the crowds ashore, who had lingered all day to see the ships off. It found expression in loud cheering and singing, hakas, and merry raillery, while a diversion was caused by a private falling overboard and being rescued.

But the troopers pulled out into the stream and dropped anchor in the lee of Soames Island, for the Admiralty Sailing Orders had not yet arrived.

Aboard, the troops settled down to their new surroundings, and for the first night no attempt was made to obtain that measure of military order and precision that was soon to reign. Opportunity was taken (the first for many in the rush of the page 24previous few days) to seek out old pals or brothers known or believed to be aboard, and what a number of old cronies there were!

The next morning only those up betimes enjoyed the luxury of a wash in fresh water, and there were few who did not have to resort to salt water for their morning shave and "rinse." On

Lt. Col. Charles Harcourt Turner.
O.C. 5th (Wellington) Regiment in Samoa.

account of the limited accommodation, difficulty was experienced in seating the men at meals, which, on the smaller ship, the "Monowai," had to be served in four relays. At breakfast the porridge and potatoes soon ran out and those who were not fortunate enough to get down with the first "G" regaled themselves with hard biscuits and butter, a meal with which they were soon to page 25become well acquainted. One of Wellington's cold southerlies was sweeping the harbour, and the sheltered spots aboard were diligently sought and well patronised by groups of old friends foregathering in eager discussion of future prospects.

T. Brig.-General Harry Townsend Fulton, D.S.O., C.M.G., C. de G. O.C. 3rd (Auckland) Regiment in Samoa.
Died of Wounds, France, 29/3/18.

As was to be expected, Transports which had been requisitioned and fitted so hurriedly were anything but ideal homes for the hundreds of soldiers they were called upon to accommodate. The holds, where the majority of the troops were berthed, were page 26fitted with tiers of bunks four high, the topmost having headroom sufficient only for a man of small dimensions to squeeze into "side on" while the passageways were too narrow to allow two men to pass, and many of them lead to a blind end. Ventilation there was none, and fortunate was the man whose choice of a bunk lay near a hatchway. Straw mattresses were supplied, and the strictest orders issued against smoking below or the use of the favourite wax vestas—a very necessary precaution under the circumstances.

Not only were the Transports very much overcrowded but they were distinctly dirty, and medical orders went forth for "a general scrubbing of the holds to render them partially fit habitation for the closely-packed draft. This fatigue proved a rude awakening to many a raw recruit, as to the multifarious duties required of a soldier of the King on active service.

Each Transport was self-contained, both in regard to the composition of the units and the equipment, so that if anything happened to one ship the other could proceed without it; or the two ships could make a landing at different points. Practically the only difference was that Headquarter's Staff was on board the "Moeraki," and that vessel also carried a complete wireless outfit.

But the anxiously-awaited Sailing Orders had not yet arrived, and the first day aboard was spent in harbour, while out of chaos order began to evolve. Ships' guards were mounted, the troops organised into platoons, and rosters prepared of cooks, butchers, bootmakers, tailors, carpenters, surveyors, etc., the number of callings required being remarkable, and the response from so small a force being even more so.

The records also proved a difficult problem. For each man the King's Regulations required an assortment of index cards and forms, all of which had been wondrously mixed by the hastily-selected and over-worked clerks ashore, the final division between the two ships of what meagre records there were tallying in few details with the men aboard. Orderly room staffs were organised to unravel the tangle, but for the remainder of the voyage it was a frequent occurrence to unearth from the page 27bowels of the ship some diligent cook or table waiter hitherto unattached.

Ferry boats en route to the Bays encircled the ships as they lay at anchor. Excursions ran out from the shore carrying sweethearts and wives, and mothers in the hopes of a last glimpse of a dear one, and sheaves of telegrams from those too distant to reach Wellington before the departure.

The Force was inspected aboard during the day by Major General Sir Alexander Godley, K.C.M.G., C.B., Commandant New Zealand Forces. That night secret instructions regarding the object and conduct of the expedition were received by the Officer Commanding, and read:

Department of Defence, Hqrs. Office, Wgtn.,
13th August, 1914.

To Colonel R. Logan, A.D.C., N.Z.S.C,

1.	You are appointed to command an Expeditionary Force of the New Zealand Military Forces.
2.	The troops under your command have been embarked on the transports "Moeraki" and "Monowai."
3.	The masters of the two ships have received instructions to take their orders from you.
4.	You will proceed to the German islands of Samoa and seize them. His Majesty's Government has stated that the seizure of the Wireless Station on the Island of Upolu is very desirable; that, therefore, should be your first objective.
5.	Captain H. J. T. Marshall, R.N., Senior Naval Officer, N.Z. Waters, has received orders to co-operate with you. The' Navy will endeavour to secure your safety while at sea, and if possible will assist your landing. You should confer with Captain Marshall, and act on his instructions while at sea.
6.	When you have seized the Islands you will take such measures as you may consider necessary to hold them, and to control the inhabitants.
7.	You will erect your Wireless Station as soon as possible after you have established yourself on the Islands, and report through the British station at Fiji if you cannot communicate direct with the New Zealand stations.

(Signed) W. G. Braithwaite, Colonel,
Chief of the General Staff.

Thus another day of waiting came and passed, and night saw the lights of Wellington still over the ships' rails.

Next morning—the 14th—the Prime Minister, Right Hon. W. F. Massey, went aboard and inspected the transports. He was accompanied by the Minister of Defence, the Hon. James Allen. Thereafter the ships moved into Clyde Quay. The troops —in full marching order—were put ashore and exercised, taking a route around Oriental Bay and back to the wharf via Hataitai and Roseneath. But at 4 p.m. a thrill went through the ships— an order issued for a parade on the Basin Reserve, and instinctively it was felt that at last there was something definite afoot.

The public of Wellington were given barely an hour's notice of the parade, by "Extras" posted at the various newspaper offices and in a few shop windows. But hundreds of citizens quickly made their way to the scene and hundreds more followed fast upon their heels, until the green slopes of the Reserve were crowded. No ceremony such as this had been seen since the days of the Boer War, when the same call from the Motherland had been answered in a similar manner. But there were no decorated streets nor display of bunting, no massed bands or waving of flags: the usual pomp and splendour of military reviews were missing.

It was difficult to realise that the ceremony about to be conducted was the official farewell of the first of New Zealand's sons for active service, bound for an unknown destination.

The troops were formed into a hollow square, Colonel Logan and his officers at the head, during a silence that could be felt. That the time for demonstration was over, and that it was the eve of a momentous occasion, was realised by everyone who saw the long lines of over-coated men.

The Governor-General addressed the troops in the following words:—

"Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men of the Expeditionary Force: It is very little over an hour and a-hal£ since I received a telegram ordering your departure from these shores as soon as possible. We have advice from Home that the enterprise upon which you are embarking is one of great and urgent Imperial necessity, and we felt we could not let you go without wishing you page 29God-speed. We know that you will uphold the honour of the Empire and of the Dominion. We shall look forward with the greatest interest to all your doings. God bless you all."

It was not until the speeches were over and the troops had been blessed that the crowd, at the call of the Governor-General, found voice for stirring cheers for His Majesty and the Expeditionary Force. And overhead the sky was blue, bestowing nature's benediction.

Within fifteen minutes every soldier had left the Basin. The Band struck up a lively march, and through thronged streets the troops marched back to the wharf and quickly embarking, were lost in the rapidly-falling evening shadows of the port. But the hour of departure had not yet arrived, and that night the lights of Tinakori Hill wireless station still blinked down on the waiting transports. Orders were to sail before daylight on the morrow, and to meet Captain Marshall at a rendezvous Latitude 36° o" South, Longitude 178° 32" East, at 4 p.m. on 16th August.