53
The Chief of the General Staff (Wellington) to General Freyberg

The complete mobilisation of the New Zealand Forces has been ordered for 10 January, providing twenty-three battalions and eighteen being formed, nine mounted rifle regiments, four field regiments, and miscellaneous and ancillary troops. Medium guns and howitzers are being utilised to cover various anchorages, leaving only one troop of 6-inch howitzers for the field forces. Field artillery includes thirty-six 25-pounders and fifty 18-pounders. The total strength will be approximately 50,000 by 10 January, rising to 62,000 about one month later, and 68,000 ultimately, all exclusive of the Home Guard. We had already advanced the annual training date for part of the force from January to 15 December, on which date approximately 30,000 troops of all categories, including New Zealand Expeditionary Force reinforcements, were in camp.

Fiji is of the first importance as an essential link in the United States air reinforcing chain and for other reasons, and we reinforced it in December with eighteen field guns and howitzers, four 3-inch anti-aircraft guns, six anti-aircraft searchlights, and 700 men to complete the third battalion. Further reinforcements comprising approximately 4000 troops, four 25-pounders, four Bofors, two 60-pounders, and two 6-inch howitzers are being sent in two flights to raise the force to two brigade groups and two reserve battalions organised as a division. The first flight has sailed and the remainder go in a few days. Arms and equipment have been found from New Zealand, resulting in shortages here, but the United States is despatching the equivalent, plus other equipment, urgently to Fiji and New Zealand, when adjustments will be made if the situation permits.