NZEF. New Zealand Expeditionary Force

From the age of 12 all males in New Zealand received military training. In 1911 New Zealand formed a 25,000, part-time national militia. Most of the men who volunteered to join the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) in August 1914 came from this Territorial Army.

Under the command of General Godley, the NZEF joined with the Australian Imperial Force in Australia. The two forces were sent to Egypt for training with British weapons. It was decided to put Australian and New Zealand forces together to form the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). Some were used to defend Suez but most of them were sent to the Gallipoli Front. The ANZACs suffered over 33,600 losses (over one-third killed) by the time they were ordered to withdraw in January 1916. The New Zealand troops were then transferred to the Western Front in France.

An unidentified New Zealander outside his dugout in a trench during World War I. A sign above the 'door' reads "Whangamomona" which may be where the soldier hails from. Note the "Aussie style" slouch hat.

During the First World War over 124,000 New Zealanders, almost 10 per cent of the population, joined the army. Of these, 100,000 served overseas and the high percentage who served on the front-line is reflected in the fact that they suffered 58,000 casualties, including 17,000 men killed.

The Defence Act of 1909

provided the pattern of Territorial training to replace the Volunteers and for all schoolboys to become a part of the Senior Cadets after leaving school. The minor changes which were suggested by Lord Kitchener during his visit to New Zealand in 1910 were implemented in 1911.

When World War I started in 1914 New Zealand had three years of military organization upon which to build her war effort. At this time the only rifles in the Dominion were old pattern .303 Lee Enfield rifles and these served to arm the New Zealanders at Gallipoli.

The efficiency of the organization can be seen in that the Expeditionary Force of 360 officers and 8,067 men left New Zealand two months after war was declared. This force, together with its reinforcements was known as the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF). However, it is more generally known in New Zealand as the Main Body. In Egypt, February 1916, the Expeditionary Force was reorganised as a Division.

For the first two years of the war the Volunteers kept up the supply of reinforcements to the Main Body, but 1 August 1916 it was decided that compulsion for all would be a more just method of raising additional forces, so the Military Service Act became law. In all, over 124,000 men from a total of 250,000 eligible males served with the Expeditionary Force.

The 1911 Defence Act divided New Zealand into Four Military Districts, each of which had four infantry regiments. The 17th (Ruahine) Regiment was formed in 1914.

The New Zealand Expeditionary Force had four Regiments:
- 'Auckland',
- 'Wellington',
- 'Canterbury' and
- 'Otago'.

These were named after Provinces and each had a Service Company from the Regiments in the respective Military District:

'Auckland' Regiment:
- 3rd (Auckland),
- 6th (Hauraki),
- 15th (North Auckland), and
- 16th (Waikato) Regiments.
'Wellington' Regiment:
- 7th (Wellington West Coast),
- 9th (Hawke's Bay),
- 11th (Taranaki), and
- 17th (Ruahine) Regiments.
'Canterbury' Regiment:
- 1st (Canterbury),
- 2nd (South Canterbury),
- 12th (Nelson), and
- 13th (North Canterbury and Westland) Regiments.
'Otago' Regiment:
- 4th (Otago),
- 8th (Southland),
- 10th (North Otago), and
- 14th (South Otago) Regiments.

Each of these 'Provincial' regiments had one battalion in Gallipoli and three battalions in France. Battle Honours were earned for the sixteen Regiments by these service companies who wore the badges of their respective regiments.

Members of the NZ Force that occupied Somes Island circa 1915

The 5th (Wellington) Regiment was part of the Samoa Expedition and later its personnel were used to help form the New Zealand Rifle Brigade from whom the 5th get their battle honours for World War I.

In 1921 the New Zealand Military Districts were reduced to three (Northern, Central and Southern) each having four infantry regiments. This was the end of the use of a system of numerical titles.

The NZEF was disbanded on 31 December 1921.

The 1st (Canterbury) Regiment amalgamated with the 2nd (South Canterbury) Regiment to become The Canterbury Regiment.
The 4th (Otago) Regiment amalgamated with the 10th (North Otago) Rifles to become The Otago Regiment.
The 8th (Southland) Regiment amalgamated with the 14th (South Otago) Rifles to become The Southland Regiment.
The 9th (Hawke's Bay) Regiment re-absorbed the 17th (Ruahine) Regiment to become The Hawke's Bay Regiment.
The 12th (Nelson and Marlborough) Regiment amalgamated with the 13th (North Canterbury and Westland) Regiment to become The Nelson, Marlborough and West Coast Regiment.

The twelve Regiments each supplied Service Companies to the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) for World War 2.

The four Northern District Regiments (Auckland, Hauraki, North Auckland and Waikato) each had a company in the 18th, 21st, 24th and 29th Battalions.
The four Central District Regiments (Wellington, Wellington West Coast, Taranaki and Hawke's Bay) each had a company in the 19th, 22nd, 25th and 36th Battalions.
The four Southern District Regiments (Canterbury, Otago, Southland and Nelson Marlborough West Coast) each had a company in the 20th, 23rd, 26th, 30th and 37th Battalions.
These regiments inherited the battle honours of the above battalions.