Official History Of New Zealand’s Effort In The Great War Series

Contains over 55 photos and 10 maps. “Someone once remarked that the ‘NZ’ in ANZAC is silent, and perhaps people associate ANZAC especially with Australia with its ANZAC Day parade and commemorative services. This book, part of the Official History of New Zealand’s effort in the Great War, clearly shows the extent of New Zealand’s part in that ill-fated Gallipoli campaign. The NZEF sailed from Wellington on 16th October 1914, in all 351 officers and 7410 other ranks making four infantry battalions, four mounted rifles regiments, an artillery brigade, sappers, signals, medical and other divisional troops. They disembarked in Alexandria on 3rd December and the infantry battalions were attached to the Canal defence force where, in February 1915 they had their first brush with the Turks, repelling an attack on the Canal. In Egypt they combined with Australian troops to form the New Zealand and Australian Division, landing on Gallipoli on 25th April 1915. By the end of the campaign they had suffered 7,197 battle casualties (Medical History of the War ) or almost one hundred per cent of the original expeditionary force. [It] gives a clear picture of the terrain over which the battles were fought, the climate, the conditions, the intensity of the fighting and a realistic account of the horrors of the battlefield. The easy-to-read text is supported by a wealth of contemporary photos and clear maps. There is a list of honours ... (one VC) including Mention in Despatches .... The appendices also contain tables showing ships transporting the NZEF and which units each carried; the ships carrying the division to Gallipoli; the detailed strengths, by units, of the original expeditionary force and subsequent units raised during the Gallipoli campaign. There is a very useful glossary of all the place names mentioned in the text with translation of some of the Turkish features e.g., Tepe, a hill; Kale, a fort; and there is a Gallipoli Diary.” —N&M Print Ed.

Contains over 100 maps, photos and illustrations “Formed in Egypt in March 1916 the division arrived in France a month later. It acquired an elite status, fought on the Somme, at Messines and Third Ypres. 49,000 casualties, ten VCs. A very fine and comprehensive history. ...As may be expected this is a remarkably comprehensive account of one of the finest divisions of the BEF of which Earl Haig wrote: “No Division in France built up for itself a finer reputation, whether for the gallantry of its conduct in battle or for the excellence of its behaviour out of the line. Its record does honour to the land from which it came and to the Empire for which it fought.” A German assessment of the division was seen in an Intelligence document captured at Hebuterne in July 1918:- “A particularly good assault Division. Its characteristics are a very strongly developed individual self-confidence or enterprise, characteristic of the colonial British, and a specially pronounced hatred of the Germans.”... The NZ Division of this history was formed in Egypt in March 1916...The infantry consisted of two battalions each of the Auckland, Canterbury, Otago and Wellington Regiments and four battalions of the NZ Rifle Brigade, all the divisional troops-artillery, engineers, medical etc .were NZ units. The GOC was Major-General Sir A.H. Russell, promoted from command of a brigade of the composite NZ and Australian Division; he was to be the only commander of the division. The NZ Division arrived in France in April 1916 and it remained on the Western front throughout the war....The author commanded the 2nd Battalion Canterbury Regiment and in preparing this official account he has drawn on all available material - War Diaries, Operation Orders, Intelligence summaries, Narratives of operations prepared at Corps level and below, Honours and Awards recommendations, Divisional reports and correspondence, personal diaries and papers and Haig’s Despatches. ...”—N&M Print Ed

Contains over 60 illustrations and 10 maps. “The official account of the NZ Mounted Rifles Brigade (Auckland, Canterbury and Wellington Mounted Rifles), which fought right through the Sinai and Palestine campaigns, gaining a high reputation. ...The Mounted Rifles Brigade had been fighting on Gallipoli as infantry, part of the New Zealand and Australian Division, and on 26th December 1915 they arrived back in Alexandria to resume their mounted role; their strength was 62 officers and 1329 other ranks. When reorganization was complete the Brigade numbered 2421 officers and men and 2,884 horses, part of the Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division along with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Australian Light Horse Brigades. In March 1916 the Brigade took over part of the Suez Canal Defences but it was in August that the Sinai operations began with the Battle of Romani and the subsequent actions in all of which the Brigade took part. Advancing into Palestine they played a great part in that campaign earning high praise from Allenby. In the appendices there is a Brigade Diary showing the more important moves taken and actions fought during the two campaigns, and they make a most impressive list. As with the other volumes of this history of New Zealand’s part in the Great War the narrative is easy to read and follow, gives a clear picture of the terrain (a virtual travelogue in parts) and the conditions of desert fighting, supported by good maps and plenty of contemporary photos. There is no Roll of Honour nor list of Honours and Awards nor index. Apart from the diary the appendices contain a glossary of terms occurring with place names and the brigade order of battle with succession of commanding officers in all units.”—N&M Print edition.