Sailing With N.Z.E.F. Main Body In 1914

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 9, 18 October 1950, Page 4

Sailing With N.Z.E.F. Main Body In 1914

By 13/329, W. B. Fitchett, Wellington Friday, October 16, 1914. I’ll never forggt that misty Wellington morning when the Bain Body of the N.Z.E.F. started on the great adventure.

Besides 3946 horses, there were 8499 of us packed aboard those 10 grey transports. Every nook and cranny was utilised. The “deck passengers” were horses and were they pampered! For us soldiers, refrigerated ho\ds had been converted into dormitories and some of the coal-bunkers into messrooms. No luxury liners in 1914. The motto of the Main Body was: “Treat ’em rough to make ’em tough”! At exactly 6.30 on that Friday morning the British cruiser Minotaur steamed slowly down the harbour, followed by the Japanese battleship Ibuk —the White Ensign .and the Rising Sun united in war for the first time. Then the small cruiser Philomel moved up, leading the line of grey transports. First of these was the Maunganui, flagship of the N.Z.E.F., aboard which was Major-General Godley. Next in order came the Hawke’s Bay. Star of India, Limerick and Tahiti. The light cruiser Psyche led the second line—Arawa, Athenic, Orari, Ruapehu and Waimana, a slowly moving procession of imposing grey ships that must have given the thousands of watchers ashore a wonderfu] thrill.

In spite of the early hour, the hills around Seatoun w; re black with people. At the Heads several ferry boats crowded with relatives and friends were lying, and didn’t they give us a great send-off. As each ship passed, three rousing cheers were given . . .and did we respond? I’ll say! Continuous cheering came over the water from Seatoun hills, and the waving of flags, handkerchiefs, towels, anything, made an unforgettable sight. We were off to the war. Will any of us Main Body men ever forgoet that day? Hardly.