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The Auckland Regiment

XV. Egypt

page 82

XV. Egypt

After the Evacuation the various parties of the Battalion assembled outside Mudros Village in a camp of tents. The "Die-hards" of the Battalion were welcomed with much joy, but the greatest demonstration was reserved for the two Australian battalions which had been the last to leave Anzac. The road by which they marched was lined with cheering men; for the brotherhood of Anzac had been a very real thing. It was there that Australian and New Zealander got to know and appreciate each other as never before or after. Lemnos was not a wildly exciting place to be back in again. The camp was very ordinary, and the admixture of pebbles with turf did not improve matters when it came to turning in for the night. Mudros itself was a filthy little place. The only building of any beauty was the Church, which was really quite fine. Colonel Plugge took over the Brigade for a few days, and Major Alderman assumed command of the Battalion. Drill and discipline became the order of the day. This served to fill in time, at any rate. A shower of rain swamped out the officers' marquee, and made things unpleasant for all. The only real excitement, however, was a raid carried out by certain bold spirits of all units upon a certain guard of "Jocks," who had in their keeping sundry barrels of beer. The "Jocks" were surprised by overwhelming numbers and led away in one direction, while the barrels rolled off in another. When the barrels were "dry"—and what were they amongst so great a multitude?—both they and the guard were shamefully abandoned. Four days of comparative quietness passed, during which everyone yearned for the flesh-pots of Egypt, and were not a little disappointed when it became evident that Christmas in Cairo would be an impossibility.

page 83

Orders for the move came Christmas morning. Very early indeed the Battalion fell in. The Colonel said he was sorry there was not very much for breakfast, but that if all hands would get to work and strike camp quickly they would be aboard the transport by mid-day and would find a first-rate Christmas dinner already waiting. Everyone set to work in high spirits and the best possible frame of mind. The work was done. The Battalion, headed by the band, moved down to the pier. Embarkation was a quick-business. Shaking down on board was a somewhat more confused matter, but was finally accomplished successfully.

What about this Christmas dinner? Apparently it was to be on during the evening, instead of mid-day. That dinner never came, and to this day its loss is a bitter matter with every survivor. The officers fared sumptuously—no fault of theirs, for they would have shared if it had been possible—and the men had hard white biscuits, without even the familiar bully-beef. To wash down this repast a small quantity of cold water was available. This was the climax, and the Auckland Regiment was never, in all its history, in quite such a bad temper.

Next day things looked more cheerful. The Marsova was ploughing her way steadily toward Alexandria, and if Christmas had been rather a failure the New Year was still to come, and there were worse places than Cairo to spend it in. Memories of the first stay there were revived, and men made arrangements with one another as to what they would do and where they would go when all were safe back in Zeitoun Camp.

At last the quay at Alexandria! and there, right on the quay, a slip of an English girl in her Red Cross uniform at a little buffet. So fair and sweet and clean she looked a vision of beauty and grace to men who for nine long months had not seen a woman, except some of the withered old Greeks at Lemnos. The very sight of her was a benediction.

There was to be no leave in Alexandria. Trains were already waiting, and in two hours the Aucklanders were once page 84more rattling down through the Nile Delta. Very homely and pleasant it looked, after the barren hills. There was a good time coming, and spirits were mounting high. Old Egypt seemed just the same, anyway, war or no war. One or two people fell off the train and damaged themselves rather badly, but otherwise nothing happened to mar the proceedings until it became evident that Cairo was not to be the destination after all. The train went down through a wide desert, past Zag-azig, past Tel-el-Kebir, to Moascar, close to Ismailia. This place had been chosen for several reasons. First there was a Turkish menace to cut the Canal, and sufficient troops had to be kept on the spot. Secondly, Moascar was an ideal training ground, with its great expanse of desert and the beautiful Lake Timsah, a bathing pool large enough for thousands of men. And, thirdly, it was not near to Cairo or any other large centre.

Arriving a little before dusk, it was found that the advance party had prepared tea, but had no camp ready, as tents had not arrived from Cairo. A bivouac was formed and, despite a shower of rain, the night passed comfortably enough. Next day a camp was made. The process was quite simple. A large square was formed, and then subdivided into four smaller ones, with roads running between. The four companies each occupied one square. In front of the main square were the officers' lines, and in rear of the camp the cookhouses, the Quartermaster's Stores, and the machine-gunners. Boundaries were marked off by heaping up little banks of sand. At first only a few tents were available, and the majority of men constructed rough bivvies, usually of oil-sheets. As the days passed, however, more tents arrived, and within a few days everyone was under canvas.

After nine months fighting the Aucklanders were once more back on the desert sands. They had left Egypt 1100 strong. During the campaign they had received another 1100 men as reinforcements, and now on landing back the strength was about 600. The total battle casualties were 19 officers and 344 other ranks killed, 35 officers and 901 other ranks page 85wounded, and two other ranks prisoners of war, a grand total of 1301. Some hundreds of men were evacuated for sickness, thus causing the discrepancy between casualties and the final strength.

The following decorations were awarded during the course of the campaign:—

  • C.M.G.—Lieutenant-Colonel A. Plugge, Lieutenant-Colonel R. Young, and Major W. Alderman.
  • M.C.—Captain J. A. Wallingford, Lieutenant G. H. Holland.
  • D.C.M.—Sergeants R. Tilsley, J. H. Francis, Corporals H. Spencer, W. J. Reid, F. W. Watson, and Private G. A. Tempany.

The above were all mentioned in despatches, Lieutenant Colonel Plugge twice.

Other mentions were.—

  • Major T. H. Dawson (twice).
  • Major S. A. Grant.
  • Private D. Davidson
  • Private C. J. Maroni.
  • Private E. L. Koakes.
  • Bugler D. B. Treacher.

It will be seen from the above list that eleven decorations were given to the Battalion, and that another six names were included in the list of mentions. Compared with the number of decorations granted later in France, this seems a very scanty list. The recipients, however, have the right to feel additional pride in the fact that their valour was conspicuous at a time when the best and bravest men were in the field, and when recognition was very difficult to get. Those who were passed over have the satisfaction of knowing that they, too, fought at Anzac, and it is an honour for any man to be able to say that.

The following were promoted to commissioned rank during the fighting. Promotion of this sort was in itself a very great honour:—

  • Lieutenant.—Fletcher.page 86
  • Lieutenant.—Dittmer.
  • Lieutenant.—Graham Reid.
  • Lieutenant.—Holland.
  • Lieutenant.—John McKenzie.
  • Lieutenant.—Page.
  • Lieutenant.—Jack.

January, February and March were very important months in the history of the N.Z.E.F. In Moascar the Infantry Brigade swelled to three brigades, and with Divisional troops and Artillery became the New Zealand Division. This was made possible by the arrival of the Rifle Brigade, the Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Reinforcements, and the return of a great number of sick and wounded from hospital. The Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago Regiments formed two battalions, out of which, on March 1, 1916, the 2nd N.Z. Infantry Brigade was constituted.

2/Auckland were formed at Albury Hill—a point some four miles to the east of the Canal. The nucleus consisted of a small group, some thirty-five all told, who broke away from the old battalion and went out with nothing, execpt their personal belongings. Major, now Lieutenant-Colonel, Alderman was in command. Major S. S. Allen, Lieutenant Page, Lieutenant McKenzie, Lieutenant Seddon (recently promoted), Dr. Addison, Sergeant-Majors Hewitt, Goodwin, Cameron, Tuck, Sergeant Gordon and Corporal Carter were the bestknown members of this nucleus party. Major Wyman, one of the most distinguished officers of the Auckland Mounted Rifles, was drafted in. Lieutenant McClurg, coming from the Rifle Brigade, was made Quartermaster. Gradually at first, and then very rapidly, the new battalion grew in numbers and acquired much property—not always by constitutional methods. Many sick and wounded swelled the numbers. The Eighth and Ninth Reinforcements joined up. Like the earth in the early stages of creation the new battalion was "without form and void." Colonel Alderman, however, had a genius for organisation and training. He brought the whole formless mass together into one place, and then in half an hour had page 87formed a battalion, complete in every part from battalion headquarters to transport details. Immediately they marched off and commenced training. As a training officer, Colonel Alderman was unmatched in the N.Z.E.F., and until the Division sailed for France, 2/Auckland were never allowed to slacken. It was hard—just as hard as the men could possibly stand—but the purpose was achieved. A few broke under the strain, but the majority were in splendid condition. Keen as Colonel Alderman was on parade-ground work, he never overlooked the fact that he was training men for war, and the practical side was always stressed. Day by day the Battalion realised itself as an independent unit, and gained that sense of solidarity that is so essential for good fighting. The Company Commanders were:—

  • 3rd Company: Captain Kirker. 6th Company: Captain Davis.
  • 15th Company: Major Wyman.
  • 16th Company: Captain Grainger.

The feeling with regard to promotions from the ranks became very acute. There were in all the battalions a number of exceedingly capable N.C.O.'s who had been very much to the fore throughout the Gallipoli Campaign. These men thought, and with reason, that as so many new officers were required it was only bare justice that they should receive the promotion they had so thoroughly well earned. To their dismay it was found that each reinforcement was bringing a quota of officers more than sufficient to meet all requirements. None of these men had anything to recommend them especially, except that in some cases they had had a certain amount of Territorial experience. If the system were to be continued it would mean that promotion from the ranks would be practically impossible, and that men inexperienced and unproven would continually be taking commands, ranging from a platoon to a company. Strong protests were made. The Commanding Officers were generally favourable, and three of them waited on Generals Russell and Godley. General Godlcy stated that the matter had received his attention. He was quite in page 88sympathy with the views expressed, but was powerless to act, as the authorities in New Zealand, despite his protests, insisted on sending men away with commissions. Here the matter rested, but there was much soreness. Amongst men who arrived with commissions were some, who, after experience of war, turned out most brilliant soldiers; the majority were men of average type and "filled" the positions in a "not unsatisfactory manner," while a minority broke under the strain and proved themselves utterly incapable or cowardly. The system provided for a succession of mediocrity, which, from beginning to end, was the curse of the N.Z.E.F. Fighting men of the calibre of the New Zealanders should have been officered only by first-class men of proven capacity and courage. In any future war, promotion should be made on the ground of ability and experience from the ranks of the fighting units. Talent should be given every opportunity and encouragement. The scheme, moreover, should be sufficiently elastic to provide for the reduction of the incapable, cowardly, or careless, in the most drastic fashion.

Training went on without interruption, very much on the same lines as in the days of the Main Body, with the exception that there was no Cairo in which to spend leisure time. After the work of the day, which usually finished up at 2 p.m., the main diversion consisted in bathing. Lake Timsah was quite ideal for that purpose. Thousands of men were bathing every day. It was a wonderful sight to see the blue waters of the lake, with the circle of sun-kissed sandhills just broken here and there by clumps of palms, and the splendidly developed bodies of the bathers.

Ismailia itself, though a pretty little place, had comparatively few attractions; yet, as there was nowhere else to go, except the wide desert, the town was thronged during all leave hours. It was at Moascar that the N.Z.Y.M.C.A. made its first appearance with the fighting troops of the Dominion. Two huts were erected, and much good work was done.

Life once more became monotonous, and the next move was eagerly waited for. No definite statements were made,page 89consquently rumour had a clear field. Salonika, Mesopotamia and France were all frequently mentioned. Deep down there was no doubt whatsoever that France was the country most desired. Now that the Gallipoli venture had definitely failed, it was evident that France and Belgium were to be the decisive battlefields. It was there that the heaviest fighting would take place. Every little arrangement with regard to clothing, equipment or training which gave any indication of probable climatic conditions was most eagerly discussed. Training continued without respite all through March. On April 3rd Sir Archibald Murray inspected the troops.

The New Zealand Division, under Major-General Sir A. H. Russell, K.C.M.G., was to proceed to France.

On the night of April 5/6th, 1/Auckland entrained for Port Said, and there embarked on the Franconia. Next day 2/Auckland embarked on the Ascania from Alexandria. The voyage across the Mediterranean was quite uneventful, although the presence of German submarines created a certain amount of interest. The Huns were, however, distinctly unfortunate. A well-placed torpedo would have sent either of the Auckland Battalions to the bottom, and thus saved a very great subsequent waste of ammunition, not to mention the lives of many patriotic but unfortunate German citizens.