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2nd New Zealand Divisional Artillery

Taupo Furlough Scheme

Taupo Furlough Scheme

For the next four days the gunners rested between Castiglion and Lake Trasimene, in idyllic country. ‘The weather was exceptionally fine and warm’, the 4th Field diarist noted, ‘and the Regt was encamped in delightful surroundings.’ The diary page 618 page 619 does not mention that it was here that the 4th Field lost all three of its battery commanders, Robertson, Dyson and Spring, and many other members of long standing. Other units suffered similarly; for the Taupo furlough scheme took away nearly all 4th Reinforcement other ranks and a great many officers. In 36 Survey Battery, for example, 75 men out of 260-odd departed. The 4th Reinforcements had seen more action than any other members of the Division, many of them having served in Greece and Crete and all subsequent campaigns. Their skill and experience provided the hard core of the Division. The 4th Reinforcement gunners were warmly farewelled; as the 46 Battery diary says, ‘the occasion called for a huge celebration throughout the Div and plonk flowed freely’. The consequent reshuffling of appointments throughout the Divisional Artillery gave a new look to many batteries. No regimental commanders went in the first instance, but in the 7th Anti-Tank two former COs, Majors Lambourn and Dawe, were included in the Taupo scheme.

black and white map of advance to florence

the advance to florence