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Stepping Stones to the Solomons: the unofficial history of the 29th Battalion with the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Pacific.

Major

page 99

Major

Probably the most memorable character in the battalion's history was a large brindle dog—Major. A grand warrior when need be, a tireless campaigner, beloved by children, he was a great mascot. He originally belonged to two elderly ladies who were relations of Mr. Probert, District Commissioner at Nandi, but when the battalion arrived in Fiji he left home and marched out with them to their camp the first day. From then on he was 'on the strength'.

Major accompanied the battalion on all route marches and manoeuvres from that time on, and in the early stages caused much consternation by trying to slay every Indian goat along the roadsides. At first he used to walk half a yard in front of the colonel, who continually found himself shortening his step to avoid treading on the dog. Finally he threatened to 'shoot the brute', and from then on Major took up his position about three yards in front of the CO.

When the first change of areas took place in March, 1941, he was nearly lost to the training battalion, who held him in the guard house and refused to give him up. However, at 4.30 in the morning of departure A company paraded under its NCO"s and marched upon the guard house. Major was returned to the 29th.

He often visited other units but always returned. Major came back on one occasion to find the battalion packing up for return to New Zealand. Many attempts were made to get him aboard the President Coolidgc, but each time the ship's officers chased him off. When the ship sailed he was on the wharf with the band to say farewell.

On the following trip, however, another battalion had better luck. Major was crated with the rest of the warlike equipment and stacked away in a hold. Every day someone would sneak in and feed him, and he came off the ship the same way as he went on. One of the battalion drivers found him in a camp at Manurewa and smartly reclaimed him.

page 100

Major still never missed a route march, but his place now was from 50 to 100 yards in front of the column. Used to tropical climates, however, he felt the cold. At Hunua he fought a losing battle with the YMCA secretary for the right to sleep in front of the open fire in the recreation hut. But he marched to Karapiro with the battalion, to become an instant favourite with the children at the PWD camp; he went through the Battle of the Kaimais—the wettest and coldest stunt of all—and was present at the 'capture' of numerous hills south of Cambridge. In a battalion route march on 10 November, 1942. however, he started to drop back after the first couple of hours and did not finish the distance. He turned up at a dance on the Saturday night, but the next day was so weak that he had to be taken to a nearby vet., who administered a painless death.

Major was buried with full military honours on the hill overlooking the parade ground. There the children would often carry flowers and lay them on his grave. When the battalion went overseas again his collar, on which the men had lavished so many hours of polishing, went with them still.