WILL WE FORGET?

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 92, 15 October 1932, Page 15

WILL WE FORGET?

"MAIN BODY" DEPARTURE

ANNIVERSARY TO-MORROW

(By "13/329.") Friday, 16th October, 1914! Do I remember it? Well,-will the memory of that misty Wellington morning ever be forgotten by any of us Main Body "boys" as Jong as we live? Hardly! It was the start of tho Great Adventure, and we were sailing Somewhere—route and destination unknown—but bound for a EEAL war. Eight thousand five hundred of us were aboard those ten grey troopships, packed .like tho proverbial sardines, with over 3000 horses taking up a tremendous amount of space. Every mau was in perfect physical condition and as hard as nails. It was no easy matter to pass tho medical test in 1914 Writers have described tho Main Body as "the flower of New Zealand's young manhood," but we were pretty tough and hardy blooms. Wo had to be to stand up to what was to come later. Did the future worry us? No, not a bit! "We were ready for anything, German battle cruisers included. Just then—on that memorable Friday—wo were sailing into the -unknown. Only the Navy knew our destination, but the sooner wo got there the better, for at the other end was a good scrap and every man aboard was as keen as mustard to be in it; That was the spirit of the N.Z.B.F. in 1914. '

At exactly 6.30 on that Friday morning tho British cruiser Minotaur steamed slowly down the harbour followed by the large, throe-funnelled Japanese battleship Ibuki—the White Ensign and tho Bising Sun united in war for tho tost time. Then the little Philomel moved up, leading the lino of troopships. First of theso' was the Maunganui, the . N.Z.E.F. Flagship, aboard- which' was Major-General Godley and the sta^f. Then ■ came, in order the Hawked Bay, Star of India, Limerick, and Tahiti, all packed with troops and horses. -Next in the procession of grey ships came tho light cruiser Psyche, followed by the Arawa, Athenic,1 Orari, Ruapehu, and Waimana—a long slowly moving lino that must have given the watchers ashore a wonderful thrill. ■ . : ;■-■ ■■■ I• -. :

In spite of tho early hour, the hills around Seatoun were 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 the "boys" responded-lustily. Continuous cheering came over the water from Seatoun' hills, and the waving of flags, nan dkerehief s," j towels—anything— made an unforgettable sight. I); was goodbye to the N.Z.E.F. and'goodbye to New Zealand. We were off to the war. Will any of us Main Body.men ever- forget 16th October, 1914? Hardly! , . .