Timeline - Since writing you last...

War Declared

5th August 1914 The New Zealand public receives the news that on the 4th August 1914 Britain declared war on Germany. Image: Evening Post, 5…

Ernie McIntyre: enlists for service

McINTYRE, Ernest Stewart 9/323 Enlisted on the 13th August 1914 aged 20 years. Commenced his service as a Lieutenant in the Otago Mounted Rifles. Read…

21st August 1914

“Here we are Lottie & I sitting in one of the sitting rooms here, she is reading the paper while I am writing this. I…

6th September 1914

“Up till now we have spent all our time in getting the men equipped, & a rare old job it has been, it has caused…

NZEF Main Body Departs

The NZEF Main Body departs Wellington on 10 troops ships. 8454 soldiers and approximately 3000 horses arrive in Egypt on the 3rd December and set…

28th October 1914

“The weather has turned out very squally to day, with the result that the ships is rolling great guns, quite the worst we have had,…

Gallipoli landings

The ANZAC Forces land near Ari Burnu at what is now known as Anzac Cove on the 25th April 1915. The Allies had hoped to…

16th May 1915

“I do not know whether you are getting the true state of things stated to you in the papers or not, but should the Allies…

12th June 1915

“Well I should say that before this reaches you, you will all be well aware of what an eventful day the 25th of April was…

NZ captures Chunuk Bair

During the Battle of Sari the Wellington Battalion captures the summit of Chunuk Bair on the 8th August 1915. Having held their position for two…

Len Shepard: enlists for service

SHEPARD, Arthur Leonard 8/3400 Enlisted on the 23rd August 1915 aged 27 years. Commenced his service as a Private in D Company of 8th Reinforcements. Read…

1st September 1915

“I knew that for us to move meant men, & I am afraid my deduction was only too correct. I have not seen a list…

22nd September 1915

“The chief failing here is the language. I never heard anything like it but I suppose it’s a soldier’s privilege. I have heard of people…

October 1915

“Miss Russells sent a big cake & some lollies & there were two other boxes of cake & one of lollies. I can tell you…

13th November 1915

“It is the best send-off we have had they are so hospitable & friendly & did all they could for us & everyone seemed so…

20th November 1915

“We have been showered with flowers all the way & just now a motor car full of pretty girls is going past throwing roses out…

21st November 1915

“Hargest got seasick again. Bagrie & I are still good & I think we will have no further trouble. We eat almost continuously & Hargest…

11th December 1915

“Although over the Equator we can still see the Southern Cross in the mornings & about 5 o’clock this morning a few of us were…

Gallipoli evacuated

After failed attacks and deteriorating conditions, the New Zealand troops were evacuated from the Anzac area between 15th – 20th December 1915. The Gallipoli Campaign…

6th January 1916

“On Xmas day they had poultry for dinner & it was served up all feathers & only slightly cooked & with most of the internals…

17th March 1916

“I don’t think I told you about our insect friends here. We are sleeping in dug-outs & they are simply swarming with fleas, lice, mice…

NZ Division arrives in France

On the 1st March 1916 the New Zealand Division was formed with Major-General Sir Andrew Russell in command. The division is sent to the Western…

28th April 1916

“France is so different. Everything seems so pleasant & harmonious. The South of France is noted for its picturesqueness & you can hardly understand how…

Charlie McIntyre: enlists for service

McINTYRE, Charles Clements 16429 Enlisted on the 2nd May 1916, aged 24 years. Commenced service with the 17th New Zealand Mounted Rifles, then the Canterbury…

23rd May 1916

“I must frankly admit now that I am not surprised to hear that Charl. has enlisted, I have kind of felt it coming for a…

30th June 1916

“A big bombardment here is a thing to remember. It is a lovely sight at nighttime but the noise is terrible. The whole sky is…

31st July 1916

“we have had orders that no picture p.c’s of France will pass the censor & we were told that all that had been posted were…

Conscription introduced

Prior to The Military Service Act being passed on 1st August 1916, which enabled any man of military age to be balloted for active service,…

Battle of Romani

The New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade see their first major action in the Sinai and Palestine area with the Battle of Romani on the 4th…

12th September 1916

“I was awfully surprised to hear that George Wilson had enlisted, surely things have not reached such a hitch for him to turn out yet. …

NZ in the Battle of the Somme

Battle of the Somme: 1st July – 18th November 1916 The New Zealand Division takes part in the third push on the 15th September 1916…

25th September 1916

“We are pretty close up here only 5 miles behind the line. We can easily hear the rattle of the rifles & machine guns, &…

6th October 1916

“I don’t know where to start this letter – for the last two or three weeks we have had a dreadful time. Of course you…

8th October 1916

“I would like to get just a glimpse of those rare old Takitimos you speak of, with a good old frosty sunny morning gleaming on…

4th November 1916

“Last Saturday night I went up to the trenches & had tea with Capt Hargest. He is in great form, & was only a few…

17th December 1916

“The Tear Gas is awful stuff, has no other effect but makes the tears simply flow from your eyes. Of course we had our goggles,…

NZ enters Palestine

In a plan to encircle the Ottoman garrison stationed at Rafah, the NZ Mounted Rifles were issued the daunting task of positioning themselves to attack…

28th February 1917

“Mark & I have been working together on the same shift for a long time but last time we were in he was put on…

1st April 1917

“It is over 15 months now since we landed in Egypt & during that time I have never missed a day from the trenches while…

13th May 1917

“You will have seen by the papers that Jacko had carried out air raids on our hospitals up at the front. Three nights they came…

1st July 1917

“We had quite a pleasant little gathering today, the 2nd Otago Batt. invited the C.O. & three of his officers to mess with them at…

Capture of Messines

In preparation for the Passchendaele offensive, the Allies first needed to rid Messines ridge and village of German forces. Failure to do so would have…

10th July 1917

“It was on the 1st I left Moascar & it was the night of 2nd that camp was reached & as it was a straight…

John Hall: enlists for service

HALL, John 61289 Enlisted on the 21st July 1917 aged 33 years. Commenced his service with the New Zealand Medical Corps. Read more about John here. Previous /…

Ernie McIntyre: dies of wounds

McINTYRE, Ernest Stewart 9/323 Ernie dies of wounds sustained to the chest and abdomen during combat in France. At the time of his death he…

9th August 1917

“I received today your cable of sixth telling me of Ernie’s death. Although in a manner always prepared to hear the worst it came as…

8th September 1917

“I also received a letter from Kate the same as the one she sent you. Surely we must be thankful that she was allowed to…

15th September 1917

“Our Coy. front was part of the ruins of Messines & from there along the ridge to the left. Of course you will think of…

NZ in Passchendaele offensive

Third Battle of Ypres; the push for Passchendaele 31st July – 6th November 1917. The NZ Division made its first attack in the Passchendaele offensive…

28th October 1917

“It was bright moonlight when we passed through & I’ll never forget the sight. It was weird & awful. The place was quiet as death…

27th November 1917

“I don’t think I told you that when we were marching from Ypres to the trenches just before the stunt a moving picture man took…

21st December 1917

“Parr the M.P. gave one of our high & mighties a rough spin in the House. Every word he said was true & it is…

Back to the Somme

With Russia’s withdrawal from the war, German forces were able to concentrate their efforts on the Western Front. The New Zealand Division, along with other…

Charlie McIntyre: killed in action

McINTYRE, Charles Clements 16429 Charlie was Killed In Action while serving in Palestine. At the time of his death he was 26 years old. Charlie’s…

16th May 1918

“If we had been given an occasional spell we would both have been going strong yet. Even if they can’t increase leave they could easily…

11th June 1918

“We are not allowed to say what part of Egypt we are in, so you can speculate in your own mind as to where we…

8th July 1918

“One of our planes flying overhead opened out with its machine gun (a common way of signaling) & old Bill nearly jumped off his perch. …

18th July 1918

“We left Alexandria (5 transports) under escort of 7 destroyers arriving in Taranto 3 days later after a smooth & uneventful trip. I understand that…

6th August 1918

“Last night we got a Zepp raid warning & put out all the lights. I can tell you it was great sport changing trains &…

7th August 1918

“Enclosed is a map of our Passchendale stunt (with Passchendale mud attached). We were to have advanced along the road from low left corner to…

10th August 1918

“Things are looking much better at the front for the Allies just now but I suppose they will get a check again any time; I…

11th August 1918

“I do remember how the people cheered us from one end of Chch to the other & made all sorts of nice promises about what…

15th September 1918

“We are back in barracks again after a short camp out at Dogmersfield Park owned by Sir Gerald Mildway who is holding something like 700…

Last major battle of the Palestine campaign

The Battle of Megiddo resulted in a decisive British victory in Palestine. Much effort had been put into convincing the Ottoman forces that the Allied…

4th October 1918

“I have seen a good deal of the havoc wrought by the Germans heavy Guns, one could hardly credit it unless they saw it with…

Armistice Day

The First World War comes to a close with the signing of an armistice between Germany and the Allied Powers on the 11th hour, of…

19th November 1918

“You would be pleased to hear of the rather sudden termination of Hostilities out hear & it is to be hoped there wont be any…

14th February 1919

“Have just been speaking to a Staff Sergt. Major of this camp, he says, there isn’t the slightest chance of this camp being closed inside…

10th April 1919

Back Row: Arthur Leonard Shepard WWI 8/3400 William Francis Hope WWI 74605 Front Row: Francis Gilbert Blackwood WWI 32616 Ernest Hope Blackwood WWI 42022 Image:…

10th June 1919

“I visited most of our relations again in the south & found them all well they think that I am having quite a gay time…

Len Shepard: discharged from service

SHEPARD, Arthur Leonard 8/3400 Discharged from military service on the 21st August 1919 having served 3 years and 364 days with the New Zealand Expeditionary…

John Hall: discharged from service

HALL, John 61289 Discharged from military service on the 17th September 1919 having served 2 years and 59 days with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces….