IN TRAINING IN EGYPT: CHARGING TO THE MAORI WAR-CRY
ANZAC DAY IN LONDON: NEW ZEALANDERS ON THE MARCH TO WESTMINSTER ABBEY.
April 25, 1916-the anniversary of the landing of the "Anzac" troops in Gallipoli-was celebrated by a memorial service in Westminster Abbey, attended by the King and Queen and a great number of survivors of the campaign.
BRIGADIER-GENERAL BROWN INSPECTING NEW ZEALANDERS IN FRANCE
GALLIPOLI DAY AT THE NEW ZEALAND HEADQUARTERS IN ENGLAND.
General Sir William Birdwood decorating Sergeant Tavender with the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Sir Thomas Mackenzie, High Commissioner for New Zealand, is on the left.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/from-new-zealand-to-st-pauls-pr0c02scz?CMP=TNLEmail_118918_1683345
From New Zealand to St Paul’s
God grant that before long Prince and people may again meet in thanksgiving for a peace, which, when we had it, we did not value
August 5, 1915
(By a wounded New Zealander)
Twelve thousand miles away in New Zealand there is a slate-roofed, ivy-covered college chapel, where, almost a year ago, every seat in chancel and nave was occupied by pupils past or present. The masters in hood and surplice, the choir-boys in their black cassocks, filled the back benches, and in front privates and officers sang for the last time the end of term hymn and listened to the farewell sermon. These men were on the eve of departure, volunteers going without question to succour a land that most of them had never seen.
Then the scattering of all shadows,
And the end of toil and gloom.
The notes echoed in the chapel rafters, and from the lectern the hopeful words of the Benediction fell on the bended heads of the men. Not a year has elapsed, and many of those present that evening are lying in nameless graves among the dwarf oaks of Gallipoli.
Yesterday, one of those who had passed through the Valley of the Shadow heard the words of the same hymn sung beneath the dome of England’s greatest Cathedral. They awakened sad memories, but soon the majesty of the scene and service, almost oppressive in ceremonial grandeur, filled mind and eye. Personal loss and pain both were forgotten, and, in their place, came a sense of immeasurable pride and thankfulness, pride in being a citizen of so great an Empire, thankfulness for the steadfast courage of England in her dark days.
THE SENSE OF SOLEMNITY
To many of these men from overseas the magnificence and solemnity of the ceremony was overwhelming. To them all the pageantry and panoply that pass almost unnoticed in a great Imperial city were strange. The intensity of their patriotism, the fervour of their loyalty, had been fostered by no such outward show. So it was that the splendour of the grand old church, the pealing organ, the angel-voices that soared to the misty roof, the gathering of the greatest in the Empire, formed never to be forgotten impressions that will be handed down as heirlooms.
Ignorant of Monarchy, the New Zealander looked almost reverently on the khaki-clad figure of him for whom he had fought, weIl content with the quiet dignity that gives such confidence. The National Anthem, which now means so much more than it did a year ago, was sung with thrilling fervour, and its passionate patriotism and loyalty must have in some measure compensated for the anxieties and responsibilities that beset a Throne.
Midway through the service, as the Archbishop’s fervent prayer arose, a ray of sunlight flooded the gloom, striking into sudden brightness the ring on his lifted hand. A whisper of good omen was heard as the shadows fled before the sunbeams. God grant that it may be so, and that before long Prince and people may again meet in thanksgiving for a peace, which, when we had it, we did not value.
Never have the ties of Empire been so close. They are cemented with the life-blood of the Colonies, and the King rules over an undivided dominion - God save the King!
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/compulsion-in-new-zealand-kwvnrf2x3?CMP=TNLEmail_118918_1683345
Twelve thousand miles away in New Zealand there is a slate-roofed, ivy-covered college chapel, where, almost a year ago, every seat in chancel and nave was occupied by pupils past or present. The masters in hood and surplice, the choir-boys in their black cassocks, filled the back benches, and in front privates and officers sang for the last time the end of term hymn and listened to the farewell sermon. These men were on the eve of departure, volunteers going without question to succour a land that most of them had never seen.
Then the scattering of all shadows,
And the end of toil and gloom.
The notes echoed in the chapel rafters, and from the lectern the hopeful words of the Benediction fell on the bended heads of the men. Not a year has elapsed, and many of those present that evening are lying in nameless graves among the dwarf oaks of Gallipoli.
THE SENSE OF SOLEMNITY
To many of these men from overseas the magnificence and solemnity of the ceremony was overwhelming. To them all the pageantry and panoply that pass almost unnoticed in a great Imperial city were strange. The intensity of their patriotism, the fervour of their loyalty, had been fostered by no such outward show. So it was that the splendour of the grand old church, the pealing organ, the angel-voices that soared to the misty roof, the gathering of the greatest in the Empire, formed never to be forgotten impressions that will be handed down as heirlooms.
Ignorant of Monarchy, the New Zealander looked almost reverently on the khaki-clad figure of him for whom he had fought, weIl content with the quiet dignity that gives such confidence. The National Anthem, which now means so much more than it did a year ago, was sung with thrilling fervour, and its passionate patriotism and loyalty must have in some measure compensated for the anxieties and responsibilities that beset a Throne.
Midway through the service, as the Archbishop’s fervent prayer arose, a ray of sunlight flooded the gloom, striking into sudden brightness the ring on his lifted hand. A whisper of good omen was heard as the shadows fled before the sunbeams. God grant that it may be so, and that before long Prince and people may again meet in thanksgiving for a peace, which, when we had it, we did not value.
Never have the ties of Empire been so close. They are cemented with the life-blood of the Colonies, and the King rules over an undivided dominion - God save the King!
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/compulsion-in-new-zealand-kwvnrf2x3?CMP=TNLEmail_118918_1683345
Compulsion in New Zealand
The voluntary system is still hovering doubtfully between success and failure, and the Government desires the necessary powers for bringing the only possible alternative into force if the present system cannot produce the required results
May 24, 1916
All the prophets are agreed that the programme of the coming Session will include a Compulsory Service Bill. Obviously inspired announcements on the subject add that the passing of a Compulsory Service Bill will not necessarily mean compulsory service. The voluntary system is still hovering doubtfully between success and failure, and without prejudging its fate the Government desires to be armed, with the necessary powers for bringing the only possible alternative into force if the present system cannot be made to produce the required results.
In view of the gravity and uncertainty of the issue this attitude of the Government is beyond cavil. There is no room for any difference of opinion as to the number of men we must raise. We are publicly committed to find 2,500 men every month by way of reinforcements for our forces already in the field, and nobody dares to suggest that we can repudiate that debt of honour.
VOLUNTARY EFFORT.
The Recruiting Board which came into office on February 1 has done its work well. It has established local organizations all over the country, and they are mostly doing good work. The chief complaint is that in the cities neither the enrolment nor the personal canvass of the eligible has been systematically pushed. In the smaller centres of population and the country districts these matters have been more easily attended to, but the general results are not encouraging.
The 11th Reinforcements sail tomorrow, and the 12th and 13th are already in camp. But the 14th Reinforcements, which go into camp in a fortnight’s time, are 1,000 short - a deficiency of 40 per cent with half the month gone.
It is possible that the Recruiting Board will need another month in addition to the two that it has already had before the full force of its organization will be felt. But nothing approaching the present shortage has ever been realized or even contemplated before, and the leeway is generally considered to be too serious for the Board to be likely to make up. At the best the risk is both grave and imminent, and the Government is recognized as doing the right thing in deciding to summon Parliament a month or two earlier than its usual date in June and to ask for compulsory powers.
The quality of the men offering shows no falling off. The instructors spoke of the moral of the tenth reinforcements as being the best to date. The greater seriousness of purpose natural to those enlisting at a less hopeful stage of the war showed itself in a closer and more continuous application to duty than in the cose of any previous draft. There are still as good fish in our sea as have come out of it,
On May 14 our Correspondent telegraphed that it was expected that the Compulsory Service Bill would be introduced into Parliament that week. but in order to land as many of them as we need it looks as though a net with narrower meshes than those of. the voluntary system would be needed. The other reason for an early session was supposed, three weeks ago, to be to expedite the departure of Mr Massey, the Prime Minister, and Sir Joseph Ward, Leader of the Opposition and his colleague in the Coalition Cabinet, on their mission to London. Their decision at the end of January, to postpone the acceptance of the Colonial Secretary’s invitation was considered at the time as involving a postponement till the end of the year at least. The statement of Mr WM Hughes, Prime Minister of Australia, which was cabled to us from London, that Mr Massey would be there in May, was the first intimation that the people of New Zealand had received of any change of plan. Mr Massey’s denial of the date seemed to imply that except on that point Mr Hughes was correct, and the conclusion was drawn that he would sail with his colleague as soon as Parliament at an early session had disposed of the urgent business. Though Ministerial reticence continues to give speculation a free rein, the obstacles in the way of an early departure appear to be insuperable. The most urgent business demanding the attention of Parliament is recruiting, and whatever action it may take can hardly save the Government from a far heavier responsibility during the next six months than they have yet had to face. They cannot possibly spare two of their three strong men at such a time.
SUPPORT FOR MR HUGHES
Meanwhile, and for the immediate needs of the hour, the Prime Minister of Australia is representing us exceedingly well. New Zealand has not yet advanced nearly so far as Australia along the line of national self-consciousness and aspiration. She is inclining slowly in the Australian direction, but she has not nearly the same fear of the reading strings of Downing-street, and she is still uneasy as to where even a very modest instalment of naval self-reliance might Iead her. But on the economic and fiscal questions to which Mr Hughes’s most specific public references have been confined, there is very little difference between the Australian and the New Zealand points of view.
It is true that in his treatment of the subject the Commonwealth Prime Minister has displayed a volcanic touch, which is not quite in the New Zealand style, at any rate since the days of Seddon. But in substance Australia’s views on the subject of Imperial trade and tariffs are our views. We have a strong faith in Protection. We also believe in Imperial preference, and though that belief has hitherto taken the form rather of raising the tariff barrier against the foreigner than of, lowering it in favour of the British manufacturer, the preference that we have given within these limits has at least been unconditioned. The possibilities of the policy will, of course, be greatly increased if Britain decides to modify her faith in Free Trade, not merely for the urgent purposes of the war, but as a permanent policy for the days of peace. While that issue remains uncertain and the Empire is in the throes of war New Zealand feels some delicacy about pressing the claims of Imperial preference.
It is doubtless to this feeling that the reticence of our leaders with regard to the speeches of Mr Hughes is to be attributed. But with this reservation he represents our views almost as faithfully as those of Australia. “Mr Hughes,” says the Evening Post, “is well qualified to speak for the whole of the Dominions on the purely economic questions with which the [Paris] Conference will, be concerned.” And the New Zealand Times, which alone of the Wellington newspapers has not been unreserved in its praise of Mr. Hughes’s utterances, and has even poured scorn on the suggestion that he would be the most fitting Empire representative at the Paris Conference, says: “Mr Hughes should certainly attend the Conference as a representative of Britain’s Oversea Dominions.”
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/new-zealanders-in-england-xfmwmt7qw?CMP=TNLEmail_118918_1683345
In view of the gravity and uncertainty of the issue this attitude of the Government is beyond cavil. There is no room for any difference of opinion as to the number of men we must raise. We are publicly committed to find 2,500 men every month by way of reinforcements for our forces already in the field, and nobody dares to suggest that we can repudiate that debt of honour.
VOLUNTARY EFFORT.
The Recruiting Board which came into office on February 1 has done its work well. It has established local organizations all over the country, and they are mostly doing good work. The chief complaint is that in the cities neither the enrolment nor the personal canvass of the eligible has been systematically pushed. In the smaller centres of population and the country districts these matters have been more easily attended to, but the general results are not encouraging.
The 11th Reinforcements sail tomorrow, and the 12th and 13th are already in camp. But the 14th Reinforcements, which go into camp in a fortnight’s time, are 1,000 short - a deficiency of 40 per cent with half the month gone.
The quality of the men offering shows no falling off. The instructors spoke of the moral of the tenth reinforcements as being the best to date. The greater seriousness of purpose natural to those enlisting at a less hopeful stage of the war showed itself in a closer and more continuous application to duty than in the cose of any previous draft. There are still as good fish in our sea as have come out of it,
On May 14 our Correspondent telegraphed that it was expected that the Compulsory Service Bill would be introduced into Parliament that week. but in order to land as many of them as we need it looks as though a net with narrower meshes than those of. the voluntary system would be needed. The other reason for an early session was supposed, three weeks ago, to be to expedite the departure of Mr Massey, the Prime Minister, and Sir Joseph Ward, Leader of the Opposition and his colleague in the Coalition Cabinet, on their mission to London. Their decision at the end of January, to postpone the acceptance of the Colonial Secretary’s invitation was considered at the time as involving a postponement till the end of the year at least. The statement of Mr WM Hughes, Prime Minister of Australia, which was cabled to us from London, that Mr Massey would be there in May, was the first intimation that the people of New Zealand had received of any change of plan. Mr Massey’s denial of the date seemed to imply that except on that point Mr Hughes was correct, and the conclusion was drawn that he would sail with his colleague as soon as Parliament at an early session had disposed of the urgent business. Though Ministerial reticence continues to give speculation a free rein, the obstacles in the way of an early departure appear to be insuperable. The most urgent business demanding the attention of Parliament is recruiting, and whatever action it may take can hardly save the Government from a far heavier responsibility during the next six months than they have yet had to face. They cannot possibly spare two of their three strong men at such a time.
SUPPORT FOR MR HUGHES
Meanwhile, and for the immediate needs of the hour, the Prime Minister of Australia is representing us exceedingly well. New Zealand has not yet advanced nearly so far as Australia along the line of national self-consciousness and aspiration. She is inclining slowly in the Australian direction, but she has not nearly the same fear of the reading strings of Downing-street, and she is still uneasy as to where even a very modest instalment of naval self-reliance might Iead her. But on the economic and fiscal questions to which Mr Hughes’s most specific public references have been confined, there is very little difference between the Australian and the New Zealand points of view.
It is true that in his treatment of the subject the Commonwealth Prime Minister has displayed a volcanic touch, which is not quite in the New Zealand style, at any rate since the days of Seddon. But in substance Australia’s views on the subject of Imperial trade and tariffs are our views. We have a strong faith in Protection. We also believe in Imperial preference, and though that belief has hitherto taken the form rather of raising the tariff barrier against the foreigner than of, lowering it in favour of the British manufacturer, the preference that we have given within these limits has at least been unconditioned. The possibilities of the policy will, of course, be greatly increased if Britain decides to modify her faith in Free Trade, not merely for the urgent purposes of the war, but as a permanent policy for the days of peace. While that issue remains uncertain and the Empire is in the throes of war New Zealand feels some delicacy about pressing the claims of Imperial preference.
It is doubtless to this feeling that the reticence of our leaders with regard to the speeches of Mr Hughes is to be attributed. But with this reservation he represents our views almost as faithfully as those of Australia. “Mr Hughes,” says the Evening Post, “is well qualified to speak for the whole of the Dominions on the purely economic questions with which the [Paris] Conference will, be concerned.” And the New Zealand Times, which alone of the Wellington newspapers has not been unreserved in its praise of Mr. Hughes’s utterances, and has even poured scorn on the suggestion that he would be the most fitting Empire representative at the Paris Conference, says: “Mr Hughes should certainly attend the Conference as a representative of Britain’s Oversea Dominions.”
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/new-zealanders-in-england-xfmwmt7qw?CMP=TNLEmail_118918_1683345
New Zealanders in England
Since our sick and wounded first began to arrive from Gallipoli last year, it is the proud boast of the ladies connected with our War Contingent Association that not one New Zealand soldier known to be in hospital was left unvisited
September 26, 1916
To the Editor of The Times
Sir, Seeing that there has been some correspondence in your columns on the treatment of British soldiers, a short statement of what has been done for our New Zealanders may prove of interest.
In the first place, our men who come from the trenches are invariably met at the railway stations on arrival by New Zealand gentlemen residing in London and conducted to the New Zealand Soldiers’ Club, which is carried on by the New Zealand War Contingent Association in four large houses in Russell-square, in one of which, I might mention that, by a rather curious coincidence, the daughter of Captain Hobson, RN, the first Governor of New Zealand, lived until the time of her death, which happened only a few months ago. Her husband, Sir Alexander Rendel, the well-known engineer, most generously placed the house at our disposal, free of rent, for the period of the war. The club, which has become most popular, has accommodation for more than 200, and is used, not only by our men on leave from the front, but by those who get short leave from our large training camp on Salisbury Plain and from other camps in England, and also by the men who have passed through hospital and wish to spend part of their short furlough in seeing London.
Since our sick and wounded first began to arrive from Gallipoli last year, it is the proud boast of the ladies connected with our War Contingent Association that, although our men were scattered about in almost every military hospital in the United Kingdom, not one New Zealand soldier known to be in hospital was left unvisited. In this work our ladies were greatly assisted at Liverpool and elsewhere by the Victoria League. While in hospital, and during convalescence, our men’s requirements are ascertained by the official visitors of the NZ War Contingent Association, and each patient gets his weekly supply of tobacco and other comforts. The executive offices of the association are situated opposite to the headquarters of the NZ Expeditionary Force in Southampton-row, and a splendid clubroom is maintained there. Light refreshments in the morning and afternoon, the latest New Zealand illustrated newspapers, and writing materials are provided, whilst frequent parties are held for patients in hospital.
The efforts of the association are directed towards keeping the men in a healthy and cheerful atmosphere, and they have shown the greatest appreciation of what has been done for them. Theatre parties and concerts, drives and other outings are organized, and the home people have been the soul of hospitality and kindness and have done an enormous amount for our men. It is, perhaps, invidious to mention individual cases, but the names of Mr and Mrs Charles Knight will always be remembered with gratitude and affection by the many New Zealand officers who have been nursed back to health in their home at Brighton, which Mr and Mrs Knight have maintained for more than a year as a convalescent home for New Zealanders. Mr and Mrs Waldorf Astor have also given to us their house at Sandwich as a convalescent home for New Zealand nurses, and this has already proved most acceptable and valuable. as our nurses have been greatly overworked, and a short change at the seaside works wonders for them in a very short while.
Very many of our men - one might almost say all of them - spend part at least of their furlough in Scotland, and there the people are most lavish in kindness and hospitality. Moreover, the War Contingent Association has established lately several clubs for our men. This department does all it can to help as occasion arises, and sends out to New Zealand each month a report to relatives. Also, as soon as one of our soldiers is reported to be in hospital, he is now communicated with immediately by myself and asked to state what his wants are; and in this and other ways sympathetic touch is kept with all our men.
Those who are unfortunately unfit for further service are sent home as soon as possible. Comforts of all kinds are placed on board the ship which takes them back to New Zealand, and on their arrival they are well taken care of by the various patriotic committees and other institutions established in the Dominion for their comfort and welfare, whilst the Government out there provides for them under a generous pension scheme.
Let us hope that the services of these brave men, disabled in fighting for the freedom of the British Empire, will not be forgotten as long as they live.
I am, &c, THOMAS MACKENZIE
Sir, Seeing that there has been some correspondence in your columns on the treatment of British soldiers, a short statement of what has been done for our New Zealanders may prove of interest.
In the first place, our men who come from the trenches are invariably met at the railway stations on arrival by New Zealand gentlemen residing in London and conducted to the New Zealand Soldiers’ Club, which is carried on by the New Zealand War Contingent Association in four large houses in Russell-square, in one of which, I might mention that, by a rather curious coincidence, the daughter of Captain Hobson, RN, the first Governor of New Zealand, lived until the time of her death, which happened only a few months ago. Her husband, Sir Alexander Rendel, the well-known engineer, most generously placed the house at our disposal, free of rent, for the period of the war. The club, which has become most popular, has accommodation for more than 200, and is used, not only by our men on leave from the front, but by those who get short leave from our large training camp on Salisbury Plain and from other camps in England, and also by the men who have passed through hospital and wish to spend part of their short furlough in seeing London.
Since our sick and wounded first began to arrive from Gallipoli last year, it is the proud boast of the ladies connected with our War Contingent Association that, although our men were scattered about in almost every military hospital in the United Kingdom, not one New Zealand soldier known to be in hospital was left unvisited. In this work our ladies were greatly assisted at Liverpool and elsewhere by the Victoria League. While in hospital, and during convalescence, our men’s requirements are ascertained by the official visitors of the NZ War Contingent Association, and each patient gets his weekly supply of tobacco and other comforts. The executive offices of the association are situated opposite to the headquarters of the NZ Expeditionary Force in Southampton-row, and a splendid clubroom is maintained there. Light refreshments in the morning and afternoon, the latest New Zealand illustrated newspapers, and writing materials are provided, whilst frequent parties are held for patients in hospital.
The efforts of the association are directed towards keeping the men in a healthy and cheerful atmosphere, and they have shown the greatest appreciation of what has been done for them. Theatre parties and concerts, drives and other outings are organized, and the home people have been the soul of hospitality and kindness and have done an enormous amount for our men. It is, perhaps, invidious to mention individual cases, but the names of Mr and Mrs Charles Knight will always be remembered with gratitude and affection by the many New Zealand officers who have been nursed back to health in their home at Brighton, which Mr and Mrs Knight have maintained for more than a year as a convalescent home for New Zealanders. Mr and Mrs Waldorf Astor have also given to us their house at Sandwich as a convalescent home for New Zealand nurses, and this has already proved most acceptable and valuable. as our nurses have been greatly overworked, and a short change at the seaside works wonders for them in a very short while.
Those who are unfortunately unfit for further service are sent home as soon as possible. Comforts of all kinds are placed on board the ship which takes them back to New Zealand, and on their arrival they are well taken care of by the various patriotic committees and other institutions established in the Dominion for their comfort and welfare, whilst the Government out there provides for them under a generous pension scheme.
Let us hope that the services of these brave men, disabled in fighting for the freedom of the British Empire, will not be forgotten as long as they live.
I am, &c, THOMAS MACKENZIE
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