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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Personal Volume

Gallipoli Campaign

page 45

Gallipoli Campaign.

Our troops were engaged in the Gallipoli Campaign from 25th April to 19th December, 1915. The casualties in that campiagn were approximately 8,000.

During that campaign the original force—i.e., the Main Body—was raised by reinforcements and new units to approximately 14,400.

From October, 1915, in consequence of an increased number of reinforcements being required, owing to increased percentages being required to reinforce the different arms and to the numerous new units added to our Expeditionary Force, drafts were called up and despatched every four weeks, instead of two months, as hitherto.

The Military Service Act to use compulsion where volunteers were insufficient became law on 1st August, 1916. At that time there was no shortage of volunteers, but a general feeling prevailed throughout the country that compulsion for all alike was more just.

In January, 1916, it was decided to form a New Zealand Division consisting of 676 officers and 19,369 other ranks, total 20,045. (Owing to new units asked for by the War Office and approved by the Now Zealand Government, the establishment of the New Zealand Division and subsidiary units was at the date of the armistice 853 officers and 23,051 other ranks, total 23,904).

The Division was shortly afterwards transferred to France, and the New Zealand Mounted Rifle Brigade—93 officers and 1671 other ranks, total 1764—remained in Egypt and proceeded on service with the Anzac Mounted Corps until the date of the armistice.

Much censure was made at times against the Government during the war respecting the number of reinforcements sent. It has often been stated in Parliament and outside that the Government were piling up reinforcements in England. Especially the formation of the Fourth Brigade came in for much criticism. This brigade was formed out of reinforcements in March, 1917, during a period when the Division had few casualties. Immediately it was required it was again broken up and used as reinforcements. It was never reinforced and was only formed into a brigade during a lull in the fighting. In connection with the cry that too many reinforcements were accumulated at Home (never

page 47
more than 5,000 effectives at most), the following table of casualties at main engagements may be of interest:—
Armentieres 3,048
Somme 7,000
Messines 5,000
Passchendale 4,000
German and British offensives 13,000
(These figures are approximate.)

The New Zealand Division has never suffered from lack of reinforcements such as some of the Australian divisions have. It was the only division in the field, including British and Australian, that was not reduced in strength. The policy of the Government in refusing to send a larger original force and higher reinforcements, as was urged very often in the beginning of the war by the public press, has been justified by results, as, had this been done, a constant stream of reinforcements could not have been sent.

The s.s. Maheno was chartered on 25th May, 1915, and the s.s. Marama on 3rd November, 1915, from the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand and were fitted up as hospital ships, the former having a capacity of 340 cot patients and the latter 592 cot patients. These ships have performed splendid service during the war.

Reinforcements were trained chiefly in Trentham and Featherston Camps, the former having a capacity of 4,500 and the latter about 7,500 (exclusive of Tauherenikau and Papawai subsidiary camps). Maori and Rarotongan troops, as well as Tunnellers, were trained in Narrow Neck Camp near Auckland, and Medical Corps in Awapuni Camp near Palmerston North.

A camp for men classified "Cl"—i.e., men likely to become fit after receiving special training—was established at Tauherenikau in September, 1917. It has been alleged in Parliament and outside that this camp was not justified by results, in so far as few men became fit for transfer to reinforcements, and that the majority of those so transferred were discharged as medically unfit before their drafts embarked on active service. An analysis showed that excellent results were obtained. Of a total of 7,187 men sent into Cl Camp from September, 1917, to date of the armistice, 3,528 (representing 49.1 per cent.) were transferred to reinforcements, 2,899 (or 40.3 per cent.) discharged, and 760 (10.6 per cent.) remained undisposed of at the time of the armistice. Of the 3,528 transferred to reinforcements, only 330 were discharged before their drafts sailed from New Zealand. A large number, although classified unfit for active service, had their general health much improved by their sojourn in camp.

The New Zealand Army Nursing Service was formed at the commencement of the war. In all, 550 nurses were despatched from New Zealand. Of this number ten were drowned in the wreck of the Marquette and three others died.

Maori troops to the number of 2,227 and 461 Rarotongans and Niue Islanders proceeded on active service.

From the outbreak of war to the signing of the armistice New Zealand despatched 100.444 troops and nurses, and on the latter date there were 9,924 troops in training in the various camps in New Zealand. This constitutes a splendid record from a country with a total population in 1914 of 1,089,825. The number of males of military age was 243,376.