New Zealand’s

Involvement in

World War I

Why did New Zealand become involved in World

War I?

New Zealand became involved in the Great War (W.W. I) as the result of decisions made by the british. As part of the British Empire, New Zealand was committed by King George V’s declaration of war on August 4, 1914. In this crisis, New Zealand did not hesitate, offering to raise an expeditionary force immediately for service in Europe.

Imperial patriotism was reason for this response, reinforced by considerations of self-interest.

New Zealand’s livelihood depended on her trade with Britain. Also, British power made New Zealand secure.

Soon after the start of World War I, a N.Z. expeditionary force, intended for France, was recruited. It was drawn from the 25,000 members of the recently formed Territorial Force.

This expeditionary force combined battalions of infantry, four mounted rifle regiments, a field artillery brigade with

ammunition column and other ancillary Arms.

It left New Zealand on October 14, 1914 under the command Major General Godley. Sailing with him were 8,427 officers &

men and 3,815 horses.

The N.Z. contingent linked up with an even larger Australian force to travel to Europe. While their convoy was at sea, they

were redirected to Egypt, where they arrived on December 3,1914.

Departure of N.Z. troops October,

1914

Gallipoli Peninsula

The Gallipoli strategy

On April 25, 1915 the New Zealanders (who had joined with the Australian forces to form the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps - ANZAC) landed on the

Gallipoli Peninsula, where for the next 8 months they fought alongside the Australians in a desperate

campaign against the Turks.

ANZAC landing at Gallipoli April, 1915

ANZAC landing at Gallipoli April, 1915

ANZAC Cove

N.Z. soldiers at Gallipoli 1915

Notwithstanding the fine effort on the part of the ANZACs, a stalemate was quickly reached. For the soldiers, trench

warfare in conditions of physical hardship and extremes of climate became the norm.

Worse, they found themselves confined to an extremely small area.

Few of the ANZAC trench systems ever penetrated further than 2,000 metres from the shoreline.

N.Z. soldiers in a Firing trench

N.Z. soldiers firing a cannon at Turkish positions

One of the most inspiring actions ever performed by New Zealand soldiers took place on Gallipoli when they stormed the heights overlooking the ANZAC lines.

On 8 August 1915, New Zealanders attacked a feature called Chunuk Bair, the strategic key to the Peninsula .

They reached the top of Chunuk Bair, but strong Turkish counter attacks led to bitter fighting with the New

Zealanders taking heavy casualties and eventually being forced to withdraw.

The New Zealand Infantry and Mounted Rifle Brigades started the battle for Chunuk Bair with 4,549 men. After

two days of heavy fighting they were reduced to a strength of 2,678.

N.Z. soldiers mounting an attack on Turkish positions on Chunuk Bair

The Wellington Battalion led the assault at 4.30 a.m. on the morning of 8 August.

"Of the 760 of the Wellington Battalion who had captured the height that morning, there came out only 70

unwounded or slightly wounded men. Through out the day not one had dreamed of leaving his post. Their uniforms

were torn, their knees broken. They had had no water since the morning: they could talk only in whispers: their eves

were sunken: their knees trembled: some broke down and cried like children".

- C. E. W. Bean, the official Australian War Historian:

August 8 was a day of tragedy for New Zealand, but no day in our calendar shines with greater glory".

- The Official New Zealand War History records

After eight months of this trench stalemate, the ANZAC forces were withdrawn from the Peninsula.

3,491 men of the Australian and New Zealand Division were withdrawn off the beaches on the night of 18/19

December 1915 and the remaining 3,000 on the following night.

ANZAC evacuation from Gallipoli

Gallipoli medal

Between April 25 and December 19,1915 N.Z.

suffered 7,473casualties at

Gallipoli – 2,721 dead and 4,752

wounded.

N.Z. memorial at Chunuk Bair

After Gallipoli, the New Zealand Division was ordered to France to help the British and French in their struggle

against the Germans.

The first New Zealanders arrived at the Western Front in April 1916 and they quickly became accustomed to

trench warfare on the battlefields of France and Belgium.

Their first major action was in the closing stages of the Somme offensive in September 1916: in 23 days of

fighting 1,560 New Zealanders were killed and 5,440 were wounded.

Stretcher bearers carry a wounded soldier off the battlefield

During 1917 the N.Z. Division took part in the battles for Messines and Passchendaele, again taking heavy

casualties.

The winter of 1917-18 was spent in the Polygon Wood sector - these "quiet" winter months alone cost nearly

3,000 casualties.

The western Front 1916 – 1918

France

Belgium

Germany

With a steady stream of reinforcements arriving from New Zealand, the Division was able to maintain its four-

battalion brigades (other allied divisions having three-battalion brigades) and it became the strongest division on

the Western Front.

N.Z. Division at Trentham

Training Camp

before leaving for

Europe in 1917

N.Z. reinforcements land at a French port in October, 1917

In March 1918, the Germans launched an offensive and the capture of the French town of Amiens seemed certain.

The New Zealanders were rushed to fill this gap and they gradually managed to gain the upper hand against the advancing

Germans. As a result the British front line was

stabilised.

For the next four months the Division held part of the line defending Amiens.

New Zealanders at the frontline

The Battle for Amiens

In mid-1918 the Allies launched a counter-offensive which eventually led to the German army surrendering in

November, 1918.

The war was finally over. Nearly 13,000 New Zealanders lost their lives in fighting

on the Western Front.Britain was grateful for New Zealand’s support and her

contribution to the allied war effort.

The New Zealand forces returned home. The country counted the cost.

N.Z. troops march past Buckingham Palace May, 1919

Casualties

During the First World War, 100,444 troops left New Zealand for service

with the expeditionary forces:

of these, 16,697 lost their lives and 41,317 were

wounded - a 58 percent casualty rate.

"Killed in Action" said the cable, That is all the tale they tell

Of the brave young lad who loved us Of the lad we loved so well.

How the life was sped we know not, What the last word, look or thought,

Only that he did his duty Died as bravely as he fought.

Memorial for N.Z. soldiers Killed in action on the Western Front – one of

seven located at each of the major battlefields

There are approximately 500 war memorials in New

Zealand which are dedicated to the memory of

the thousands of New Zealanders who were killed in action during World War

I.Nearly every town and city has one – usually situated

in its main street.

Wellington

Christchurch

Oamaru

Tongariro National Park

Waipukurau

Norsewood