Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Personal Volume

[introduction]

In 1913 Mr. James (now Sir James) Allen arranged with the War Office the composition and arrangements for despatch of an Expeditionary Force. This force was, roughly, 7,000 to 8,000 men of all arms.

On announcement of this on the return of Mr. Allen to the Dominion, this arrangement to provide this force was assailed by certain sections of the community, the general tone of the complaint being that it was an undertaking by the Government pledging the Territorial Force, recently formed under General Godley, for service outside New Zealand. This plea was immediately contradicted by the Government, who explained that the Expeditionary Force would be voluntary.

On the threatening for war (not the outbreak) the Government of New Zealand, with the great consensus of public opinion behind them, offered the services of a New Zealand Expeditionary Force. This was accepted by the Imperial Government, and the first party to leave New Zealand (approximately 1,400) sailed on 15th August, 1914 (eleven days after declaration of war with Germany) for German Samoa. At that time the German cruisers Gneisenau and Scharnhorst, with light cruisers, were in the Pacific. Arrangements were made by the Imperial authorities for the Australian Navy (one battle-cruiser and several light cruisers) to escort this force. This fleet was eventually reinforced by the French cruiser Montcalm. On arrival of the British forces the authorities in German Samoa surrendered without resistance, and this German colony has since been occupied by a New Zealand garrison under Colonel Logan as Administrator.

The Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force comprised 351 officers and 7,410 other ranks, total 7,761, and with the 1st Reinforcements (comprising ten per cent, of the Main Body)—90 officers and 729 of other ranks, total 738—under General Godley, sailed from New Zealand on 15th October, 1914. They were carried in ten transports and were escorted from New Zealand by four of His Majesty's ships and a Japanese cruiser. Later the Australian cruisers joined the escort, and during the voyage the German cruiser Emden was fought and finished by H.M.A.S. Sydney.

From the commencement of the war the military authorities, after the despatch of the Main Body and 1st Reinforcements, laid down a definite aim of training for each reinforcement draft. Recruits were called in during the first year of war at intervals of two months, and men were not allowed to go in when they pleased, but had to wait until a draft mobilised. This, of course, gave rise to a great amount of criticism of the Defence Department, but the Department's scheme proved solid in the end, as men coming in one draft could bo trained

page 45

together and despatched in one draft at regular intervals, whereas in case of men coming in at odd intervals a draft would have been in different stages of training, and on arrival at the base the whole draft would probably have to wait for the least-trained soldier.

During the earlier stages of the war, when recruiting meetings were held all over the country, a nuisance was created with what was called the professional recruiter—i.e., a man, say, with one eye or some disability which prevented his being accepted, coming up before a crowded meeting, receiving cheers, and ongoing to the doctor, especially if he had been there before, getting bumped hard into the street.