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Author's Preface

Perhaps a word should be said about the form of this book. No name has been mentioned except that of our Divisional Commander. It was difficult to leave out some great names, but it would have been impossible to have used names with anything like proportion and balance. There are no records available which would have enabled this to be done. It was suggested to the writer that he should throw the narrative into the form of a personal diary. This was felt to be impossible for a variety of reasons, not the least being his desire to retain many friendships that might have been gravely imperilled by the liberties that would necessarily have had to be taken. Also he felt strongly that what most people in New Zealand wanted was the story of the N.Z.E.F. in Gallipoli, France and Flanders in a single volume and in such a form as would describe the adventures and sufferings, the good fun and fellowship, the selfsacrifice and valour of our men as a mass.

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