Lest We Forget...
Kaikohe 1914 - 1918
Anderson A B Anderson D A Baker, P L Baker, V H Bennett, O W Bindon J W Boyd, J. Bridge, W H Brown, E Choat S W Cullen O Davison, S B Dickeson, C A Edwards, S Faithfull C B Faithfull, W N Farnell, W Farr, J. Flood T F Groves, S Halliday, J. Hansen, W Hirst S L Joyce I Kihi, P King, L C King, T Leslie T Ludbrook H R McMullen, W McNamara, H McNicol D Makoare T Marr, J E Moffatt, J. Neilson, A R Padlie D Perry E H Pollock, A Poutawera, J. Rameka P Russell T Sly, E L Snowden, I Stevenson, J. Taitoa P Walker, R Warena, K Watt, C Whetu P Wilson H F Woods, W Wooster, F R Wynter, R 1939 - 1945 Ahlfeld, J. Aiken, T J. Alexander, W Anderson J. Ashby G Baynton, T J. Bradley, R M Brodie, G E S Brown K R Brown, L A W Bryers, T N Cains, J A Cains S W Carr L A Chapman, H E Chapman, R H Clarke, H Clarke T G Curry, J. Dawson, D Dawson, W De Costa R G Donaldson J. Eady, J. East, J. Edmonds H Edmonds H T K Gilbert, M L Haimona, R Hammond, D C Hapeta C Harrison A W Harrison, V H Horimona, F S Hutchinson R E Kaiawe R Kaire, K Kareko, J.T Katene, T Kelly M Komene P Law, D Leaf, W H Lockett A H Longworth H Lovelock, N J McKenzie, D A McKenzie, N J MacKereth F J G
Maihi, H Marshall, L S Munn L D Neilson S Neumann, C S Nicholson, W J.
Penny, O E Philips R A Pokaihau, H P Pollock, T McD Pou, G Ramsey C H Robinson E E Roos, S W Russell, D Shortland, J. Skinner F Skudder, J C Stanton, R J Tau, J. Te Namu F Warren G Webster, T West, W Wihongi H Wihongi T Wipere, W Young, E P Kaitaia & District 1914 - 1918 Kaitaia
Bell, Walter Charles Bishop, John Joseph Denny Charles
Benjamin Denny, Richard John Dickin, Henry George Fryer, Robert Hyslop Hill Reginald Michael McNickle
Moses Matthews, Henry Selwyn
Negus Clarence
William Richter, Basil August
Walker, Taylor Mangonui Area Bartley, Walter Campbell, Richard
James Coleman Claude
Cecil Harrop, Edwin James Houston, Albert Cyril
Houston, Harold Edward
Leo, John Leo, Edward Matthew McNamara, Henry
Cecil Mein George Frederick Coore
Penney, George
Leslie Rewi Perenara Tiini, Hopa White, Alexander McGregor
Willis William Brian de Laval
Kaingaroa
Atkinson, Clarence
Clifford Corbett Alfred
Sydney Hansen, Ivan Roy McKeown, James Meenan Harry Conrad
Wells, Henry John
Oruru - Peria
Hetaraka Hurae
Povey John Thompson, Walter Weber Wilkinson, Eric
Leslie HouhoraWaiharara
Akast, George Aldred, John Reeves
Blucher
Charles Theodore Coulson, Sidney Robert Davis, Richard
George Gordon, Alexander
Duncan
Gordon John Archibald
Heath, Patrick Lamb, Alfred James Lingar, Albert John Mahoney Frank
Daniel Matia, Tuhi Rini
Noble Edward
Olsen John Oscar
Smith, David Francis
Thomas, Alfred Edward
Thomas William
Alfred
Urwin, LanceFrederick Charles
Urwin William
Edward Wagener, Wilfred
Ernest Wells, Benjamin Alexander Awanui
Clark, Clark Conrad, Paki
Hadfield Matthew Petewiki
Hansen, Frederick Alfred Hurley James Kanara Wi Rapata
Kiri, Ben White, Kenneth Robert
Pukepoto - Ahipara Brass Rata
Busby, Tawhai Rapihana, Herewini Waaka Hohepa Waru Henare
Waru, Kopa Takahue
Hayward, John Henry
O’Donnell, Patrick J Warner William Henry HerekinoWhangape
Adams James De Andrad, Albert Manual
Ford, William Alexander Hodges Samuel Henry
Keay, David Steele
Keay William Robert Passell James Powell, Gerald Massey Powell, Victor Ivan Rae Thomas Handley Ratana,Wiremu Smith, Joseph James Frank Smith Nimrod Bendigo Fred Wikitera, Robert, Williamson, Frederick Fairburn Fletcher Thomas Henry Gillott, William Hodgson, Thomas Corless Mardell Frederick William Parker, Joseph Victoria Valley Ramsey Arthur Harry Stanton, Alfred Littledyke Wallace, Gordon Wallace Leslie Te Kao Hare, Heremaia
Keepa, Arana Mete Manuera, Hohaia Manuera Richard Tahu, Ngakapa Taimona
Taurere, Tepana Te Whai Whakaruru Wiki Waaka, Hapimana Aporo Kaitaia 1939 - 1945
Brien, Harold Brown, Thos M Dale, Allan Head S B Leonard Noel Maaka, Ephram Maria, Hec Werner Garth
Werner Roly Williams, Mervyn Mangonui Area August, Jack Cameron Len
Roll of Honour Roll of Honour
Coffin, George Henry, Tom Raharuhi R Shepherd Ben Kaingaroa Chuck, Sunny Povey, J Chuck Rapna R Oruru-Peria Davis, P Jensen, Andrew Martin John Robb W Thompson, Ashley Thompson, Vincent HouhoraWaiharara Borovich, John Burrows, J. Corcoran, John Hoggard Jim Hoggard Trevor Milich, Alex DFC Osborne, George Petricevich Mate Sorich George Steed, G Stephens, Andrew Tahitahi, Robert Ujdur Ben Urwin A F Awanui Cosson, T Evans, Ivan Fisher Colin Fisher, Harry Fisher, Robin Walters, Albert Pukepoto-Ahipara Allen Robin Brass, Barney Busby, Henry Busby Leopold Coleman Simon King, L B Leef, Raroa Lloyd, S Robson Monty Silva Wiki Urlich, Joe Takahue White N Wright N C Herekino-Whangape Benton, Douglas Ellis, Richard Gordon M C B Koha, Leonard Lloyd, Jack Powell, Eric Wi Kuhu V Fairburn Gardiner, Trevor Leslie, John Macpherson, John Macpherson Peter May, Frank Osborne, Noel Victoria Valley Braithwaite F/O Toby Brockbank Robbie Hansard, Epa Kitchen, Ernie Stevens, Bobbie Trigg F/O Lloyd V C D F C White, Leslie Te Kao Brown Brown Harawera George Heka, Ranga Ihaka, Rewhiti Kawakawa & District 1914 - 1918 Eccles, H D Garaway, F D Goodhue C Halliday A Halliday, J. Harrop, E J Lee J Lemon D Leslie, T Reinhardt, C J Stehr, O 1939 - 1945 Ashby W G Burns, P C Burns, W Clarke T Cotterell H M Cotton, T Davis, J Dawson, E C H Ellis R
Ferguson, J. Gilbert, K L
Girven J W Going, R C Goodhue, O H Harawene H Harrison J J V Marshall, A E Marshall, L S Milner D Owens, L Penney, O E Skudder J S
Smeath G A R N Squire, L A Stanton, R J Studholm M P Sullivan, J Tarau, C Tautari G Te Tore J. Timperley, C B Tobin, L Wharerau H Wharerau, M Yorke, S H Kerikeri 1914 - 1918 Baker, D Baker, V Faithful C McLeod, D J 1939 - 1945 Callender D G Grant, I Hewitt, B D Raymond, J Shannon R Strongman, K Studholme, M Waha J. Russell 1914 - 1918 Davidson, A Hakaraia H Hooper, G Rice, J Rigden G Rivers, J P Saunders, J H Schmidt, R C Williams L S DMC Wood, C C 1939 - 1945 Baker C Bell, C Hakaria, B Hakaria W Hau W T K Howe, P Kareko, J Matene H W Maunsell, D
Parkes, J Rush, A G South Hokianga 1914 - 1918 Beattie, C C Beattie P A Bourke P W Bridge, H Classen, E Classen H C Drewett, O W Driffel, W Eyes F Flood F F Iraia, H Keymer, G Lane A H Leaf, J. Leef, G Martin J Newton F Norton, R A Page, H Ridges A Taoho, I R Turbutt, J Tucker R Williams, F Waipuke, W 1939 - 1945 Baker M C Bolton, E Botica, A L Boyd N H Cassidy, T Clark, T E L Cochrane, A E G Goodwin B Hauraki, P Iraia, W Johnston D Karora, A Kelly, Mohi Kelly, M Kereopa S Leaf, A Leaf, H W Nelson P Pehi, D Pokaihau, H Smyth, S Stansell G E Taurere, J Tawhai, J Wharerau Maru Wharerau, Moa Wikaira, J. North Hokianga 1914 - 1918 Adam, S J Baxter, B E Begg K H Boreham, A
Bridge, H Brook, J C De Andred A Donnelly, R E Downes, A Downes, O Edwards S Enright, F Ensor, C Faithful W Fatt, J. Groves, S J.J Halliwell H Harding J. Harding, W Hodgson, H Kendall K Kjoller, J Lees, F Lees J. Mansbridge S Moka, W Moka, J. Nash F Nolan, D L Philips, E M Philipps F E Philips, M I Smith, H Stancliffe, T Te Whata P Ward, A Waru, K Waru W Williams, A E Williams, F Williams, H W Wooster F R Wright, G C 1939 - 1945 Arona W Baker, M C Bolton, E Botica, A L Boyd N H Campbell, K Campbell, P Campbell R Cassidy, T Chapman, H Clark, T E L Cochrane E A G Curry, J. Dale, A Goodwin B Hapeta, C Harris, C Harris P Hauraki P Hoani, D Holland, W Hotere J. Howard, J
Iraia, W Jeffries, M Johnson D Karanga, M Karora, A Kelly Mohi Kelly, M Kereopa, S Leaf, A Leaf, H (MC) Ling, R Mendis, S Moa S Nash, A E Nash, J. Nelson P Pearson, L R Pehi, D Peita F Peti, S Pokaihau, H Pomare, T Rakena A Rameka, M Ratana, W Read D D Roberts, P Scott, F Smyth G Stansell, G E Taurere, J. Tawhai J Tohu R Waha Rai, D
Wharerau, A Wharerau, Moa Wharerau Maru Wikaira, J. Whangaroa & County 1914 - 1918 Bowyer, A O Boyd James Boyd M Bramley, Armand Cruller, Basil A Downes A Downes, O Epiha, Daniel Foley Henry Gates, Richard Goulton, Charles Hansen Frederick Hare, Hubert Kingi, Anwha Kingi Tamati Langley Hugh Leslie, James Leslie, John George McKenzie David McRae, Malcolm O’Donnell, J O’Donnell, W Saies, Alfred Shepherd, Vivian Skinner Lawrence Snowden Bertram Snowden, Ivan
Snowden, Thomas Teuhu, Hare Vendt L A Wood Newton York R T 1939 - 1945 Bramley, A H Collinson, W C Epiha, Paihana Ferguson J Frear W G Hape, B Heke, James Hemi, R Henare, Thomas Heta, Dave Hoey P Hona K C Hughes, D King, Lewis Lane, Peter Denis McKeown, J D Paul W Pawa Matthew Poata George Poata, Tai Rogers, H R Schmidt, L S Taniwha, F M Whitehead J W Wilkie I.S Yerkovich Steve
Anzac Day Services 20
THE ANZAC RITUAL
The Anzac Day ceremony of 25 April is rich in tradition and ritual It is a form of military funeral and follows a particular pattern The day’s ceremonies have two major parts: one at dawn and another, more public event later in the morning
THE DAWN SERVICE
A typical commemoration begins with a march by returned service personnel before dawn to the local war memorial Military personnel and returned servicemen and women form up around the memorial joined by other members of the community Pride of place goes to war veterans
At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them.
The Last Post is then played, followed by a minutes silence and Reveille
A brief address follows, after which the hymn Recessional is sung The service concludes with a prayer and the national anthem.
THE ANZAC PARADE
A short service follows with a prayer, hymns (including Kipling’s Recessional or Lest We Forget), and a dedication that concludes with the fourth verse of Laurence Binyons For the Fallen:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
Another ceremony takes place later in the morning of 25 April. Returned service personnel wear their medals and march behind banners and standards The veterans are joined by other community groups, including members of the armed forces, the Red Cross, cadets, and veterans of other countries’ forces.
The march proceeds to the local war memorial, where another service takes place, and various organisations and the public lay wreaths
This is a more public commemoration than the dawn service less intimate and less emotional The speech, usually by a dignitary, serviceman,
or returned serviceman or woman, often emphasizes nationhood and remembrance
After these services, many veterans retire to the local Returned and Services Association (RSA) club or a hotel, where they enjoy coffee and rum (in the case of the dawn service) and unwind after an emotionally and, for elderly veterans, physically exhausting event. At the end of the day, the ceremony of the Retreat is performed.
Source: https //nzhistorygovt nz/ Source:
AnzacDaydawnserviceatKerikeriDomain’smemorialwall,25April2023. PHOTO/PeterdeGraaf
TheWhangareiparadegetsunderwayatAnzacDay2024 PHOTO/MichaelCunningham
The word “Anzac” is deeply ingrained in both New Zealand and Australian culture. It evokes a shared history and a sense of camaraderie between the two nations. People speak of the “Anzac spirit,” we bake Anzac biscuits, and trans-Tasman sports teams often compete in Anzac Day matches. Yet, beyond its cultural significance, “Anzac” has a specific origin. It stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, a formation established during the early days of World War I.
The Birth of the Anzac Name
In December 1914, as troops from the Australian Imperial Force and the New Zealand Expeditionary Force trained in Egypt, they were placed under the command of Lieutenant General William Birdwood Initially, the term “Australasian Corps” was proposed but both nations were keen to maintain their distinct identities
The exact origin of the name “Anzac” remains uncertain, but it is widely believed that Sergeant K M Little, a clerk at Birdwood’s headquarters, coined it as a convenient abbreviation for a rubber stamp
The term soon became the corps’ telegraph code word and, later, a defining part of its identity
THE ORIGINS OF THE ANZACS
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Gallipoli and Beyond
The Anzacs first saw battle at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915, where the troops landed at a small cove soon named Anzac Cove Before long, the name “Anzac” was being used to describe all Australian and
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The New Zealand Division first served under the I Australian and New Zealand Army Corps before shifting to the II Australian and New Zealand Army Corps until early 1918
Meanwhile, during the Sinai-Palestine campaign, the combined Anzac Mounted Division played a crucial role
The Legacy of Anzac
The Anzac name continued into later conflicts During World War II, a new Anzac corps briefly formed during the Greece campaign of 1941
In the Vietnam War New Zealand and Australian infantry units combined to create the Anzac Battalion
More than a military acronym, “Anzac” has become a lasting symbol of courage, sacrifice, and the unbreakable bond between Australia and New Zealand.
The 28th (Māori)Battalion:
Northland’s Proud Warriors
NORTHLAND’S ANZAC HEROES:
REMEMBERING OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS
As ANZAC Day approaches, communities across Northland gather to honour the men and women who served in times of war.
Among them are remarkable individuals and groups whose courage and sacrifice continue to shape our region’s history. From the trenches of Gallipoli to the battlefields of World War II, Northland’s ANZAC heroes have left a lasting legacy.
One of the most distinguished groups of Northland soldiers served in the 28th (Māori) Battalion, a highly respected unit in World War II Drawn largely from iwi across Te Tai Tokerau, these warriors fought with extraordinary bravery in North Africa, Greece, Crete, and Italy Among them was Sir James Henare (1911–1989) of Ngāpuhi, a commanding officer who played a key role in the battalions success. After the war Henare became a leader in the revitalisation of te reo Māori and a staunch advocate for Māori development His leadership on and off the battlefield continues to inspire Northlanders today
Percy Valentine Storkey VC: A Hero’s Bravery
Another remarkable Northlander was Percy Valentine Storkey, who was born in Napier but raised in Northland Storkey earned the Victoria Cross (VC) the highest military honour for bravery during World War I In April 1918, near Bois de Hangard, France, he led a daring bayonet charge against a German machine-gun position, capturing 50 enemy soldiers with only
a handful of men His courageous actions saved many lives and contributed to a crucial victory
After the war, Storkey pursued a successful legal career in Australia, but his legacy as a Northlandborn ANZAC hero remains significant
The Northlanders at Gallipoli
The Gallipoli campaign of 1915 saw many Northlanders among the ranks of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) These soldiers endured some of the most brutal conditions of World War I Among them were young men from Whangārei, Dargaville, Kaikohe, and Kerikeri, many of whom never returned Their sacrifice is remembered at memorials across Northland, including the Whangārei Cenotaph and the Mangonui War Memorial
The Brothers Who Served
Many Northland families had multiple members serving in the armed forces including the Broughton brothers and the Tauroa family, whose sons fought bravely in both world wars Their stories, passed down through generations, reflect the deep commitment of Northland families to defending New Zealand and its allies
GALLIPOLI: A DEFINING TRAGEDY
April 25 marks the landings of New Zealand troops at Gallipoli in 1915. This campaign was a complete military disaster and culminated in an Allied retreat in December.
Anzac Day does not commemorate a military triumph it was a tragic waste of human life for all involved However, many more New Zealanders over 12,000 died on the Western Front than at Gallipoli So why is it not Passchendaele or the Somme that is forever etched in the collective memory of the nation?
Ormond Burton, a hero of World War I who later became a leading pacifist, believed that “somewhere between the landing at Anzac and the end of the battle of the Somme New Zealand very definitely became a nation” Others have described events at Gallipoli as New Zealand s baptism by fire
World War I highlighted attitudes many New Zealanders today might struggle to appreciate, such as “fighting for King and Empire” But other attributes bravery, tenacity, practicality, ingenuity, and “mateship” are all recognised as qualities that have helped New Zealand define itself as a nation.
For many who lost loved ones in war, such matters are of little significance For them, the day remains one of commemoration For New Zealand, with a population of around one million in 1914, World War I was a hugely traumatic event; 58,000 casualties out of a force of 100,000 meant one in every three men aged between 20 and 40 was killed or wounded
There has been a noticeable resurgence of interest in Anzac Day commemorations in recent years A growing number of young New Zealanders are attending the various ceremonies that mark this day
Some students will have relatives who fought at Gallipoli or in other international conflicts of the 20th century in which New Zealand participated They may not be aware of this, or their knowledge might be confined to old photographs hanging on a wall, showing great-grandfathers or other relatives in uniform
For others, Anzac Day is no more than another holiday Some students especially recent immigrants to New Zealand, might have no family connection to these events at all
and awareness may vary, Anzac Day marks a very important episode in the history of New Zealand and its people
y is not just our story While 25 e birth to the Anzac tradition ed the basis of the close ties ralia that continue to this day, om many other countries also and died there Repelling foreign ed to the emergence of urkey Consider the following
e were 120,000 British and 00 French casualties at poli otal of 2700 New Zealanders and 4700 were wounded ralia suffered 26,000 alties, including 8000 dead In defending itself from invasion, Turkey lost 87,000 lives out of an estimated 250,000 casualties
WOMEN AT WAR: NORTHLAND’S UNSUNG HEROES
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While soldiers on the frontlines are often the focus of remembrance, the efforts of women nurses, drivers, and essential workers were just as vital Across Northland, many courageous women stepped forward during both World Wars, serving in roles that kept the military running and saved countless lives Their stories deserve to be remembered and honoured
Northland’s Wartime Nurses: Compassion on the Frontlines
Northland women played a crucial role as nurses during the war, providing medical care under harrowing conditions Among them was Sister Margaret Davis from Whangārei, who served with the New Zealand Army Nursing Service during World War I Posted to field hospitals in
Egypt and later France, she worked tirelessly tending to wounded soldiers, often under the constant threat of enemy bombardment
Conditions were grim, with makeshift hospitals struggling to keep up with the influx of casualties. Despite the hardships, nurses like Sister Davis displayed remarkable courage, offering both medical aid and comfort to those in need
During World War II, Northland nurse Jeanette Morgan found herself stationed in Italy treating soldiers injured in the brutal battles of Monte Cassino Working with limited supplies and enduring long, sleepless nights, Jeanette and her fellow nurses embodied resilience and dedication Their contributions were instrumental in saving lives and ensuring soldiers received the care they desperately needed
Driving Towards Victory
While men were called to the frontlines, many women in Northland took on new responsibilities, including as drivers in the New Zealand Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC). These women transported troops, medical supplies, and essential goods, often navigating difficult and dangerous conditions
One such woman was Alice Thompson of Dargaville, who became an ambulance driver during World War II With roads often bombdamaged and under the threat of enemy fire, Alice faced immense risks while evacuating the wounded
Her determination and bravery ensured that many soldiers made it to medical aid in time Women like Alice not only broke gender norms of their era but also proved their invaluable role in wartime logistics
Keeping the Home Front Strong
Beyond the battlefield, Northland women kept essential industries running From working in munitions factories to maintaining farms and businesses, they provided the backbone of the war effort at home Without their contributions, supply chains and essential services would have crumbled impacting both the military and civilian populations
THE SOLDIERS’ EXPERIENCE
Living Conditions
Life for the New Zealand soldier on Gallipoli was tough
Packed inside the tiny Anzac perimeter less than 6 km2 they endured extreme weather and primitive living conditions during their eight months on the peninsula During summer (June–August), temperatures soared, while the winter months (November–January) brought rain, snow, and bone-chilling winds.
After a few months in crowded conditions, soldiers began to suffer from dysentery and typhoid due to inadequate sanitation, unburied bodies, and swarms of flies Poor food, water shortages, and exhaustion weakened their resistance to disease.
“Whenever possible a man paired off with a mate and established a ‘bivvy’ With pick and shovel a cut was made in a slope that gave protection from the bullets of the snipers, and if possible from the bursts of shrapnel. A couple of
salvaged oil sheets pinned across with salvaged bayonets made a roof that would keep out the dew at night and the sun glare by day Furnishings consisted of commandeered sandbags or old overcoats for softening the hardness of the baked floor, a cut-down petrol tin for a ‘bath’ and a whole one for storing
water As soon as the work was finished, the flies and the lice the permanent residents took up their abode”
Poor food contributed to a general deterioration in health Troops lived on a staple diet of tinned bully beef, army biscuits, and jam; fresh fruit and vegetables were non-existent
Sanitation was a serious problem With up to 25,000 men packed into such a cramped space, latrines filled up fast, and there was limited space for new ones Body lice became endemic, and diseases like diarrhoea, dysentery, and enteric fever (typhoid) flourished
Soldiersexperiencedprimitivelivingconditionsinovercrowded,unsanitaryconditions
Medical Treatment
For those wounded on Gallipoli, the wait for treatment and evacuation was often long and agonizing Medical services at Gallipoli were overwhelmed by the sheer number of casualties
Advanced dressing stations in the gullies and casualty clearing stations on the beach were often under fire due to their exposed positions The wounded were eventually evacuated by boat to hospital ships dubbed black ships’ waiting offshore
However, poor coordination and mismanagement meant many serious cases were left on the beach too long
“...There were no beds Some were still on stretchers on which they had been carried down from the hills, some on the paillasses thrown down on the hard decks… None of them had been washed and many were still in their torn and blood-stained uniforms There were bandages that had not been touched for two or three days – and men who lay in an indescribable mess of blood and filth
Most of them were in great pain, many could get no ease or rest, and all were parched with thirst ”
Ormond Burton, New Zealand
Medical Corps, quoted in The Penguin Book of New Zealanders at War (2009)
Chaos in transporting the wounded meant some lightly injured men ended up in England, while others were sent back to Gallipoli before they had fully recovered
“Bully beef and biscuits You couldn’t eat your biscuit dry. It was like chewing rock You’d break your teeth in the biscuits if you got stuck into them You had to soak it For pudding, we used to have biscuit soaking in water and the jam all mixed up together.”
The stench of the dead made conditions even worse Unburied corpses littered no man’s land, while others lay in shallow graves close to the dugouts In the searing summer heat, rotting bodies, food waste, and human waste created the perfect breeding ground for flies and disease Swarms of flies tormented the men, turning even simple tasks like eating into horrible ordeals
Psychological Pressures
Psychological stress magnified the physical hardships Service in the front line was always dangerous
Opposing trenches were sometimes barely four meters apart meaning enemy hand grenades or ‘bombs’ caused a steady stream of casualties
Nowhere within the tiny perimeter was safe Ottoman shells and snipers took a heavy toll, even in support areas
Uniform and Equipment
New Zealand infantrymen carried a rifle, ammunition, bayonet, water bottle, entrenching tool, haversack, and a pack containing over 30 kg of extra rations, water, firewood, and clothing. Individual food rations, known as iron rations,’ consisted of tinned
bully beef, hard biscuits, tea, sugar, and beef cubes. Most of this kit was attached to webbing which soldiers wore over their uniforms
Comfort and practicality soon became more important than maintaining dress regulations
“Day by day the sun grew hotter and hotter until it burned down scorchingly hot The bivvies themselves were swelteringly hot The ground was almost red hot There was little stirring of air beneath the great cliffs Men soon commenced to shed their clothing. Slacks were ripped off at the knees and the vogue of shorts commenced Coats were flung off and then shirts Within six weeks of landing, the fashionable costume had become boots, shorts, identity disk, hat and when circumstances permitted a cheerful smile The whole was topped off by a most glorious coat of sunburn”
Ormond Burton, The Silent Division (1935)
Ormond Burton, The Silent Division (1935)
Russell Weir, Wellington Battalion, in Jane Tolerton, An Awfully Big Adventure (2013)