The First World War 1914-1918

The Great War, The War to end all Wars, World War One, The First World War. All the

names that conjure up images of mud, trenches, and the savagery of this conflict.

New Zealand’s first involvement was in the taking of the German occupied naval radio sta-

tion in Apia, Samoa, so becoming the first allied force to secure German territory for the Im-

perial Crown.

The Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force then set sail for Europe and the

“main event”.

The first New Zealander killed was Private William Ham, fighting at the Suez Canal. He was

the first of 18,166 young New Zealanders who died in this war.

The Anzac's first fought together at Gallipoli, landing on 25th April 1915. (Later to become

ANZAC Day)

After this battle our troop

s were

involved in fighting in Si

nai and

Palestine, and the Wester

n Front

(Armentieres, The Somm

e, and

Passchendaele). Casualti

es were

horrendous but the Kiwis

forged a

reputation as one of the b

est

divisions on the allied sid

e.

The war ended with the Armistice

being signed by Germany, coming

into effect at 11 o’clock on the

11 th day of the 11 th month 1918.

(Later, to become Remembrance

Day, Armistice Day or Poppy

Day).

Godley General Sir Alexander John – commanded 1NZEF during WW1.Born and educated in England Godley served in The Boer War. After the war he served in the UK until offered the post of Commandant of the New Zealand Military Forces in December 1910. His first task was establishing the Territorial Force, making a promotional tour of NZ to sell the idea of compulsory military training to the public. Put to the ultimate test in 1914 Godley was able to dispatch a force to capture Ger-man Samoa on the outbreak of war and also to advise London that an 8000 strong force would be able to set sail in 4 weeks. He commanded the New Zealand and Australian Division (the Anzac's) at Gallipoli but like most commanders at the time had difficulty in coming to terms with the condi-tions of modern warfare and the battlefield at the time. Tall, austere and aloof he did not endear himself to the troops although he did receive his KCB for services at Gallipoli. He later commanded II ANZAC Corps on the Western Front and Messines was a resounding success for them. His over-confidence in New Zealand and Australian troops to successfully attack at Passchendaele after the British had failed dented his reputation within the division and with the public at home. His overall reputation as a field commander does not stand high, perhaps unfairly, he was however a crucial element in the success of the 1NZEF by establishing the territorial force in the lead up to the war and bringing a professionalism to their training not seen before and which lasted for over 50 years. Malone Lieutenant–Colonel William George – was an inspirational battalion commander on Gal-lipoli. A lawyer prior to the war Malone commanded the 11th Taranaki Rifles Regiment. In 1911 he unofficially introduced the Lemon Squeezer Hat, by squeezing the crown of the hat to resemble Mt Egmont and to make rain drip off it more easily. He commanded 1NZEF Wellington Battalion in 1914 and drove his men in training to become a high quality unit. After landing at Gallipoli he played an important role stabilising the ANZAC position. He became increasingly critical of his superiors for the conduct of the campaign. In August he led his battalion to the apex of Rhododendron Spur but baulked at the order to attack Chunuk Bair after the Auckland Battalion’s abortive attempts, saying he would not send his men to commit suicide. The attack was carried out at night, and at daylight the Turks threw ferocious counterattacks which would leave 90% of the Wellingtons dead or wounded. Malone was a dynamic leader in this desperate situation personally leading his men for-ward until around 5pm he was killed by an artillery shell fired by a British Naval Boat trying to sup-port the Kiwis. Following the loss of Chunuk Bair Malone was made a scapegoat by senior officers. These claims have since been refuted and Malone’s reputation as a citizen soldier impatient with British Regular incompetence has become a symbol of New Zealand nationalism. Travis Sergeant Richard Charles (a.k.a. Dickson Cornelius Savage) was a renowned scout and sniper with the 1NZEF. After serving on Gallipoli Travis transferred to the 2nd Battalion Otago Regi-ment and served in France prowling no mans land scouting German positions and ruthlessly killing any enemy he met. He earned a Distinguished Conduct Medal for eliminating snipers on the Somme. He was later awarded a Military Medal for a daylight reconnaissance raid eliminating a German machine gun post “conducted with the utmost audacity and coolness” according to the offi-cial war correspondent. At Rossignol Wood in July 1918 he was in his element locating all the posts and wire entanglements in the battalion’s way. He courageously blew up the wire to allow the attack to continue. Later he charged two German machine guns, killed their crews and then when a party of Germans came to recover the weapons killed them as well. He was killed by a stray bullet the next day. For this action he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Upon hearing of his death General Sir Andrew Russell commented they had lost “the best all round scout the division has produced”. The three medals are the three top medals in terms of bravery precedence.

When tanks were first built in Britain during WWI they were built in a factory which prior to the war starting was used to build water tanks. All the sign-age etc was retained on the walls of the factory and the staff were sworn to secrecy about their new project and were ad-vised to say they were building tanks still if they were asked. Eventually when the first “tank” rolled out the door someone asked “What is that?” The Reply “A Tank!!!”

“I don’t order you to attack, I order you to die. In the time it takes us to die, other troops and commanders can come and take our places” Kemal Ataturk – outstanding Turkish military figure on Gallipoli WWI

“O mothers of distant lands who sent their sons to battle here. Stop your tears. Your sons are in our bosoms. They are serenely at peace. Having fallen here now, they become our sons.” Kemal Ataturk – founded Republic of Turkey, became first President 1923

“4 weeks hard and terrible work… We anchor here about half a mile from the firing line – guns going off all round us shaking the ship and startling the life out of me each time they begin – it’s a dreadful place Gallipoli, dreadful and awful… the work is terrible – but we are needed badly…To my dying day I will never forget the last six weeks.” 22/137 Nurse Charlotte Le Gallais New Zealand Army Nursing Service HS Maheno

I expect to go thro’ alright, but dear wife, if anything happens to me. You must not grieve too much – there are our dear children to be brought up – you know how I love and have loved you… I am prepared for death and I hope that God will have forgiven me all my sins.” 10/1039 Lieutenant Colonel William George Malone, HQ Wellington Infantry Battalion died on Chunuk Bair 8 August 1915

I’ve seen men literally dying on the latrines. They crawled to the latrines, they couldn’t get anyone to carry them to the latrines… they died on the latrines and were buried anywhere about.” 12/553 Sergeant Joe Gasporich Auckland Battalion

LINKS /OTHER RESOURCES

Kippenberger Military Archive and Research Library (National Army Museum)

The website for deceased service personnel is www.aucklandmuseum.com then go

to cenotaph database.

The website for Official Histories is www.nzetc.org/projects/whz/

With Honour, Our Army, Our Nation, Our History, By Richard Wolfe

ISBN No 978-0-67-004565-5

http://www.armymuseum.co.nz

Periscope rifle Periscope rifles were developed on Gallipoli during 1915. The frame is an adapted periscope enabling the firer to aim his rifle whilst remaining hidden below the lip of the trench view an example in the Gallipoli gallery

Trench Art Trench Art is various pieces of memorabilia forged on the battlefields, usually in the reserve trenches, using battlefield relics e.g. used bullet casings as the primary source of material view opposite the trench scene in the WWI Galleries.

WWI trench A cross section of a WWI trench from the Western Front is a graphic illustration of the filthy conditions endured by soldiers from both sides. Look for the firestep, the duckboards and the parapet.

Casualties for the NZEF were: 124,211 men mobilised 100,444 deployed overseas

59,483 casualties including, 18,166 killed

New Zealand soldiers won 18

Victoria Crosses during WWI

Another 7 were won by New

Zealanders serving with other

countries armies.

Six of these medal groups are in the

Valour Alcove of the National Army

Museum.

Find out what these terms mean, in relation to trench warfare:

Duckboards__________________________________________________________________________

Dugout __________________________________________________________________________

Firestep __________________________________________________________________________

Parapet __________________________________________________________________________

Sap __________________________________________________________________________

Stand to __________________________________________________________________________

Trench foot__________________________________________________________________________

Research the life of Cyril Bassett – the only New Zealander to win a Victoria Cross on Gallipoli during WWI.

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Why are tanks called tanks?

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Draw a periscope rifle