Film: troops departing New Zealand, 1914 and 1915

The first part of the film shows New Zealand soldiers being inspected by the Governor General (Lord Liverpool) at Newtown Park. They are then seen marching to the Wellington wharves and preparing to embark, along with their horses and equipment, on a troopship which was meant to depart on 25 September 1914. This attempt to leave had to be aborted because of concern about the whereabouts of German raiders.

The Main Body of the NZEF eventually left on 16 October 1914. The 8000 troops who left for the First World War on this date were the largest body of men to ever leave New Zealand.

This second part of this film, which begins with shots of the troop ship HMNZT No.28 (SS Tofua), shows the 6th Reinforcements who left on 14 August 1915.

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2 comments have been posted about Film: troops departing New Zealand, 1914 and 1915

What do you know?

Anonymous

Posted: 07 May 2015

Hi Chris. Thanks very much for this - 14 August is also confirmed by the official Return of Troopships list: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/files/documents/ww1-stats/ww1-troopships-1914-19.pdf

I have updated the caption accordingly. Regards, Jamie Mackay

Chris Dawson

Posted: 06 May 2015

Other records show Tofua left on the 14 August 1915 along with the Willochara - see http://www.nzmr.org/lists/reinforce.html My Grandfather sailed on the 14th I have a letter dated the 13.8.15 from Trenthham the day before he sailed.