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I. Alexandra Park

—Kipling.

In the first three days of August, 1914, there were hopes, fears, doubtings, but an ever-increasing undercurrent of certainty that war would come.

The Germans crossed the Belgian Frontier. The word came. It was War.

Kitchener accepted the offer of a New Zealand Expeditionary Force, and mobilisation commenced at once. On August 11, Alexandra Park was opened as a military camp. and the Auckland Infantry Battalion was formed.

It was decided that the four Military Districts into which New Zealand had been divided under the Territorial scheme should each provide a Regiment of Infantry, composed of one battalion, and thus form the New Zealand Infantry Brigade, consisting of the Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago Battalions. The Infantry Brigade, together with a Brigade of Mounted Rifles, Artillery, and Divisional Troops formed the original N.Z.E.F.

In the Auckland District there were in existence four Infantry Regiments: the 3rd (Auckland), 6th (Hauraki), 15th (North Auckland), and 16th (Waikato). Each of these Regiments provided a Company, and also certain specialists, to form the Battalion for service overseas. The four companies of the Battalion thus formed retained the names and badges of the Territorial Regiments from which they were drawn. The organisation and commands were as follow:—

• Commanding Officer: Lieut.-Colonel Plugge
• Second-in-Command: Major Harrowell
• Adjutant: Capt. Aldermanpage 2
• Machine-gun Officer: Capt. Wallingford
• Asst.-Machine-gun Officer: Lieut. Fraser
• Quartermaster: Capt. Graham
• Transport Officer: Lieut. Morgan
• Medical Officers (attached): Dr. Purchase, Dr. Craig
• Chaplain: Rev. Clarkson

3rd (Auckland) Company—

• Officer Commanding: Major Dawson
• Second-in-Command: Capt. Price
• Platoon Commanders: Lieuts. Macfarlane, Woolley, West, and Carpenter

6th (Hauraki) Company—

• Officer Commanding: Major Stuckey
• Second-in-Command: Capt. Sinel
• Platoon Commanders: Lieuts. Morpeth, Algie, Flower, and Dodson

15th (North Auckland) Company—

• Officer Commanding: Major Bayly
• Second-in-Command: Captain Bartlett
• Platoon Commanders: Lieuts. Screaton, Steadman, McClelland, and Weir

16th (Waikato) Company—

• Officer Commanding: Capt. MacDonald
• Platoon Commanders: Lieuts. Allen, Peake, Westmacott, and Baddeley

In Alexandra Park men shed their civilian clothes and received that weird and wonderful collection of odds and ends that are so essential for the making of the perfect soldier. They learned that the Battalion was composed of four companies, to wit, the 3rd (Auckland), the 6th (Hauraki), the 15th (North Auckland), and the 16th (Waikato), all presided over by Battalion Headquarters, where lived the Colonel, the Adjutant, the Doctor, and other all-important people. They learned, too, that a company consisted of four platoons, and that each platoon was subdivided into four sections. A man got to know his own section, the majority of his platoon, a certain number in the company, and, beyond this again, a few page 3notorieties scattered over the Battalion. Discipline was much talked of by all the authorities. It was a magic thing, by virtue of which the war was to be won. It consisted largely in the clicking of heels at stated times, the rapid casting of the eyes to the right or the left, and the saluting at all times of passing Authority. Certain other forms, ceremonies and formulae were also much bound up with this all-important matter, particularly the constant shining of brass buttons. Shining buttons were almost as important as salutes and the clicking of heels, and would cause much confusion in the ranks of the Hun. For the rest, they learned to form fours, to march reasonably, and to make the proper connection between rifle and bayonet. The most exciting experience was the march to Manurewa—some fifteen miles. The distance was accomplished in good style, and the Battalion then bivouacked for the night in an open field. It was a wet night, and cold. The majority walked about, shivering and miserable, but heroically stuck it out. Half-a-dozen of the fainter-hearted—or longer-headed—took refuge in a neighbouring farm-house. Their conduct excited much indignation at the time, so seriously were all set on the business of developing discipline; but it would be interesting to know what the subsequent war-history of the erring six was like. Khaki was found to have a very potent influence over the youth and beauty of Auckland town, which was very satisfying, and just as it should be. The food was excellent. Training was not too hard. There was a reasonable amount of leave, and all things were going well, except the fact that the war was hurrying on, and unless the "Heads" hurried up, the Auckland Battalion would arrive too late for the fun. It was certainly consoling to know that the S.S. Waimana, otherwise His Majesty's New Zealand Troopship No. 12, was being fitted out; but yet the weeks were passing, and the "Herald" and "Star" were every day announcing such a startling and brilliant succession of victories that surely the downfall of the Kaiser could be expected at any time.