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The Wellington Regiment (NZEF) 1914 - 1919

Birth of the Second Battalion—Further Training in Egypt

Birth of the Second Battalion—Further Training in Egypt.

By February, 1916, it was reasonably certain that New Zealand would be able to organise a full Division, and, with reasonable casualties, be able to keep it at full strength. For reasons both practical and political, it was decided, therefore, to raise a Division.

The old battalion retained its individuality and became the 1st Battalion of the Wellington Regiment and one of the battalions of the first Brigade. The other battalions of that Brigade were the old battalions from Auckland, Canterbury and Otago. To form the 2nd Brigade certain officers and non-commissioned officers were drafted as a nucleus of the unit. Though none were willing to give up the associations made on the slopes of Gallipoli to help knock into shape a lot of new-comers, to the credit of the Commanding Officers, only officers and N.C.O.'s of ability were sent to the new unit. At that time, many officers as well as N.C.O.'s were away sick, and were returning at irregular intervals. On their return, until the 2nd Battalions were fully officered, these were drafted to them. During the strenuous days of training in Egypt there was a certain amount of acrimony between new soldiers and those of Gallipoli fame. While for the time it may have caused personal distress, yet it seemed to have the effect of instilling into both sections a spirit of enthusiasm, page 90bringing with it a determination to show that the newcomers were as good soldiers as the old hands, while the old hands took care to prevent the newcomers showing any superiority in drill and efficiency. With the passing days and under the violence of shell fire and sharing the same difficulties and privations with the opportunity of helping each other, in France this acrimony rapidly disappeared, and there existed only a friendly rivalry between fighting units, with never a whisper of bitterness or jealousy. To the Commanding Officers much credit is due for the complete understanding between the units, for they arranged parades together and the men frequenlly shared messes, sports meetings, and the idea of the Regimental spirit was inculcated into all ranks. Time proved that of all the Regiments in the Division for efficiency, whether discipline, or actual fighting, the Wellington Regiment was second to none.

One thing that helped to weld into one Regiment the two battalions was that both old and new had to learn a lot in their training that they had not heard of before. The new reinforcements had only the incomplete New Zealand training, while the old hands found that the fighting in France had brought about a new type of training. Officers and non-commissioned officers from the Guards Regiment, who had been rendered unfit for active service in France, were sent to train the troops in Egypt in the latest ways of circumventing the German and the training at the Officers' schools by one- eyed and one-armed soldiers of the "Old Contemptibles" laid a basis for the reputation that the New Zealand Division was afterwards to win in France. Undoubtedly there is no better soldier than the regular British soldier, and he is trained with a true appreciation of loyalty, and the need for systematic and modern training. It may be that, outwardly, the manner of the regular officer was at first misunderstood by the Colonial, but his worth was soon ascertained.

The dark nights of Egypt were used for the purpose of practising night marches and marching by the compass and stars. It was more often than not that the officer leading the unit would go a little astray in the directing, and the two page 91units destined for the same spot in the lonely desert would not meet. Officers were given as much technical instruction as passible; but the needs were changing so often in France and new devices were appearing every month or so that it was inevitable that the training in Egypt was found to need bringing up to date when the troops reached France. One thing it did, however, was to make every man who took part in the training as fit as it was possible in make him.

The hot days followed by the cold Egyptian night, and the camping on the sands of the desert took their toll of the men in dysentery and enteritis; but, apart from this, there was little sickness. The original steps taken to combat venereal disease were most effective, and the intelligence of the men in addition to their being well occupied, prevented their falling into the dangers that still beset them.

After the formation of the 2nd Infantry Brigade and on arrival of the Division in France the officers of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Wellington Regiment were as follows: