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Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume I
Survey Battery, New Zealand Artillery
Survey Battery, New Zealand Artillery
313
The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Governor-General of New Zealand
Information has been received by the Army Council that a Survey Battery is required in the Middle East. You will recall that in the War Office telegram of 3 October 1939 to the General Officer Commanding, New Zealand Military Forces,1 inquiry was made as to whether the New Zealand Government would be prepared to provide a Survey Battery based on War Establishment 3/1931/13/4, and that it was stated in your telegram of 6 November2 that the New Zealand Government had decided to defer the formation of a Survey Battery until information was available as to the future of the first contingent of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
In view of the plans which have now been made for the concentration of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Middle East, it is hoped that the New Zealand Government will be prepared to increase their Corps troops in the Middle East by raising a Survey Battery for despatch to that area after the necessary military training. The War Office consider that, before they are fit for action in a theatre of war, personnel should have three months' military training, followed by a month's survey and technical training.
The position as regards equipment is that survey equipment (especially theodolites) is very scarce, and it would probably be six months before such a unit could be completely equipped from United Kingdom sources. Therefore, we should be glad to know to what extent equipment can be provided from New Zealand if the New Zealand Government agree to provide the battery.
2 Not published.
314
The Governor-General of New Zealand to the Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs
With reference to the last sentence of the second paragraph of your telegram of 26 July,3 and your telegram of 10 August (No. 313), His Majesty's Government in New Zealand would appreciate early page 228 advice regarding the future plans for the disposal of the 12th New Zealand Railway Survey Company.
The Survey Battery referred to in your telegram No. 313 will be provided, and if the 12th New Zealand Railway Survey Company is not required it is proposed to utilise personnel therefrom to form its nucleus.
The position in regard to equipment for the Survey Battery is now being investigated and advice in respect of this will later be sent to you.
3 See Third Echelon (No. 220). The sentence referred to reads: It is suggested also that the 12th New Zealand Railway Survey Company should remain for the present in New Zealand, but we should be very grateful if a Headquarters Railway Operating Group (total all ranks, 26—see WE 4/1931/17/2) could be raised and despatched with the other Transportation units in US 4.
315
The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Governor-General of New Zealand
Your telegram of 14 August (No. 314). There is no immediate operational role seen for the 12th New Zealand Railway Survey Company and at present it is impossible to forecast when the unit could be so employed. The Army Council therefore agrees with the proposal that the personnel from the Railway Survey Company should be utilised to form the nucleus of the Survey Battery, but hopes that the New Zealand Government will be prepared, if and when one is required later, to raise another Railway Survey Company to replace the 12th New Zealand Railway Survey Company.1
The readiness in meeting the request for the formation of a Survey Battery is highly appreciated.
1 The 36th Survey Battery sailed with the third section, 4th Reinforcements, on 1 Feb 1941, and after a short period in India (Deolali Camp) arrived in Egypt on 23 Mar.