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Chapter Three
Paerata

The train stopped at Paerata. To most of us the name meant nothing. All we knew was that we were miles from Auckland and that counted with us when we thought of leave. Up the road and across the paddocks we marched to our new home. We were introduced to a new style of four-men huts, and wondered just how much cold they would keep out. D company men gazed in awe at their homes, for they were different from all other styles. The carpenters hadn't even put the roofs on! A few growls and grumbles were heard during the first few days, but no wonder. Paths and roads had to be made, cookhouses were in an unfinished condition and there were no recreational facilities. Soon, however, leave started and each day a draft would depart for their homes. No pen could describe the happiness of leaving that camp for a fortnight's furlough. Ahead lay our home and our folks we hadn't seen for several months or more; behind us was a wet muddy camp, where the cold was so intense that sleep was almost impossible. By the end of July the camp was full once more and all hands settled down to the routine of improving the site. The inevitable training soon started and cries of 'On guard!', 'Shun!', 'Slope Arms!', were heard all day.

Carpenters in the battalion under Lieutenant Bill McNeight erected a pre-fabricated YMCA, thus providing some measure of comfort and relaxation for those who were not included in the 10 per cent allowed to go on leave to Pukekohe. Each Wednesday afternoon was devoted to sports, and inter-unit competitions were held on Saturday afternoons. A few members of the battalion were ineluded in a brigade hockey team which competed with some success in the main Auckland competitions. The people of Paerata helped to page 21relieve the monotony of camp life by holding some very successful dances for the members of the unit. A few of us will remember, too, the barn dances held just across the road. Reinforcements arrived direct from territorial units while we were in Paerata. Some of them took the NZEF as a hard thing, but it must be said that they soon settled down and provided some of the best men in the trying times that were ahead of us. The unit was now part of the Third Division, under the command of Major-General H. E. Barrowclough, CB, DSO, MC. The Third Division was made from all units who were in Fiji, plus the addition of further units. On 3 September the 14th Brigade, of which we were part, paraded before Major-General Barrow clough at Papakura.

At the end of September the battalion moved across to Orere for a few days and held manoeuvres. Remembrances of that occasion are the night attack by the Home Guard. These valiant souls gamely attacked an unsuspecting camp and later claimed victory over a unit which wondered what all the fore works were about. In any case a certain platoon of C company was much too busy over a feast of pip is to be worried about a few off-stage noises. October was the fateful month of travel. The 14th Brigade was to uplift from its present area and transfer to Te Aroha. But not for us was there to be train or truck travel. 'Shank's Pony' was our method—but what a tired and footsore pony. The day was the fifth when the battalion moved by the back roads for six miles in order to be in readiness at the starting line next day. The battalion had provided a large tarpaulin for each platoon and these coverings were erected each night for shelter. Light packs were carried, the heavier valises with blankets in them being carried by truck to each night's destination. From a military point of view the move was probably a great success, but from the soldier's point of view—well the less said the better. Transport moved the same distance each day and was timed to pass those on foot during the luncheon break. Quartermasters were kept busy providing breakfast before the day's move, then lunch at a rendezvous, and finally having a hot meal ready when the day's march was ended. On the second day the divisional band played past General Barrowclough at the starting point, and the 35th marched 14 miles to Mangatawheri Valley. Next day was a 21-mile hop to Mangatarata. On the fourth day what seemed like a 50-mile march was actually only a 21-mile hike to Tahuna. The weather having page 22been kind to us now turned against us, and despite the tarpaulins most of us got wet. With tremendous relief we piled on to transport on the ninth day and were conveyed to our final destination 30 miles away.