WWI workbook - National Army Museum

The First World War 1914-1918
The Great War, The War to end all Wars, World War One, The First World War. All the
names that conjure up images of mud, trenches, and the savagery of this conflict.
New Zealand’s first involvement was in the taking of the German occupied naval radio station in Apia, Samoa, so becoming the first allied force to secure German territory for the Imperial Crown.
The Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force then set sail for Europe and the
“main event”.
The first New Zealander killed was Private William Ham, fighting at the Suez Canal. He was
the first of 18,166 young New Zealanders who died in this war.
The Anzac's first fought together at Gallipoli, landing on 25th April 1915. (Later to become
ANZAC Day)
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Godley General Sir Alexander John – commanded 1NZEF during WW1.Born and educated in
England Godley served in The Boer War. After the war he served in the UK until offered the post of
Commandant of the New Zealand Military Forces in December 1910. His first task was establishing
the Territorial Force, making a promotional tour of NZ to sell the idea of compulsory military training
to the public. Put to the ultimate test in 1914 Godley was able to dispatch a force to capture German Samoa on the outbreak of war and also to advise London that an 8000 strong force would be
able to set sail in 4 weeks. He commanded the New Zealand and Australian Division (the Anzac's)
at Gallipoli but like most commanders at the time had difficulty in coming to terms with the conditions of modern warfare and the battlefield at the time. Tall, austere and aloof he did not endear
himself to the troops although he did receive his KCB for services at Gallipoli. He later commanded
II ANZAC Corps on the Western Front and Messines was a resounding success for them. His overconfidence in New Zealand and Australian troops to successfully attack at Passchendaele after the
British had failed dented his reputation within the division and with the public at home. His overall
reputation as a field commander does not stand high, perhaps unfairly, he was however a crucial
element in the success of the 1NZEF by establishing the territorial force in the lead up to the war
and bringing a professionalism to their training not seen before and which lasted for over 50 years.
Malone Lieutenant–Colonel William George – was an inspirational battalion commander on Gallipoli. A lawyer prior to the war Malone commanded the 11th Taranaki Rifles Regiment. In 1911 he
unofficially introduced the Lemon Squeezer Hat, by squeezing the crown of the hat to resemble Mt
Egmont and to make rain drip off it more easily. He commanded 1NZEF Wellington Battalion in
1914 and drove his men in training to become a high quality unit. After landing at Gallipoli he played
an important role stabilising the ANZAC position. He became increasingly critical of his superiors for
the conduct of the campaign. In August he led his battalion to the apex of Rhododendron Spur but
baulked at the order to attack Chunuk Bair after the Auckland Battalion’s abortive attempts, saying
he would not send his men to commit suicide. The attack was carried out at night, and at daylight
the Turks threw ferocious counterattacks which would leave 90% of the Wellingtons dead or
wounded. Malone was a dynamic leader in this desperate situation personally leading his men forward until around 5pm he was killed by an artillery shell fired by a British Naval Boat trying to support the Kiwis. Following the loss of Chunuk Bair Malone was made a scapegoat by senior officers.
These claims have since been refuted and Malone’s reputation as a citizen soldier impatient with
British Regular incompetence has become a symbol of New Zealand nationalism.
Travis Sergeant Richard Charles (a.k.a. Dickson Cornelius Savage) was a renowned scout and
sniper with the 1NZEF. After serving on Gallipoli Travis transferred to the 2nd Battalion Otago Regiment and served in France prowling no mans land scouting German positions and ruthlessly killing
any enemy he met. He earned a Distinguished Conduct Medal for eliminating snipers on the
Somme. He was later awarded a Military Medal for a daylight reconnaissance raid eliminating a
German machine gun post “conducted with the utmost audacity and coolness” according to the official war correspondent. At Rossignol Wood in July 1918 he was in his element locating all the posts
and wire entanglements in the battalion’s way. He courageously blew up the wire to allow the attack
to continue. Later he charged two German machine guns, killed their crews and then when a party
of Germans came to recover the weapons killed them as well. He was killed by a stray bullet the
next day. For this action he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Upon hearing of his death General Sir
Andrew Russell commented they had lost “the best all round scout the division has produced”. The
three medals are the three top medals in terms of bravery precedence.
“I don’t order you to attack, I order you to die. In the time it takes us to die, other troops and
commanders can come and take our places” Kemal Ataturk – outstanding Turkish military
figure on Gallipoli WWI
“O mothers of distant lands who sent their sons to battle here. Stop your tears. Your sons
are in our bosoms. They are serenely at peace. Having fallen here now, they become our
sons.” Kemal Ataturk – founded Republic of Turkey, became first President 1923
“4 weeks hard and terrible work… We anchor here about half a mile from the firing line –
guns going off all round us shaking the ship and startling the life out of me each time they
begin – it’s a dreadful place Gallipoli, dreadful and awful… the work is terrible – but we are
needed badly…To my dying day I will never forget the last six weeks.”
22/137 Nurse Charlotte Le Gallais New Zealand Army Nursing Service HS Maheno
I expect to go thro’ alright, but dear wife, if anything happens to me. You must not grieve
too much – there are our dear children to be brought up – you know how I love and have
loved you… I am prepared for death and I hope that God will have forgiven me all my sins.”
10/1039 Lieutenant Colonel William George Malone, HQ Wellington Infantry Battalion died
on Chunuk Bair 8 August 1915
I’ve seen men literally dying on the latrines. They crawled to the latrines, they couldn’t get
anyone to carry them to the latrines… they died on the latrines and were buried anywhere
about.”
12/553 Sergeant Joe Gasporich Auckland Battalion
When tanks were first built in
Britain during WWI they were
built in a factory which prior to
the war starting was used to
build water tanks. All the signage etc was retained on the
walls of the factory and the staff
were sworn to secrecy about
their new project and were advised to say they were building
tanks still if they were asked.
Eventually when the first “tank”
rolled out the door someone
asked “What is that?” The Reply
“A Tank!!!”
Periscope rifle
Periscope rifles were developed
on Gallipoli during 1915. The frame is an adapted
periscope enabling the firer to aim his rifle whilst
remaining hidden below the lip of the trench
view an example in the Gallipoli gallery
Trench Art
Trench Art is various pieces of memorabilia forged
on the battlefields, usually in the reserve trenches,
using battlefield relics e.g. used bullet
casings as the primary source of material
view opposite the trench scene in the WWI
Galleries.
WWI trench
A cross section of a WWI trench
from the Western Front is a graphic illustration of
the filthy conditions endured by soldiers from both
sides. Look for the firestep, the duckboards and
the parapet.
LINKS /OTHER RESOURCES
Kippenberger Military Archive and Research Library
(National Army Museum)
The website for deceased service personnel is www.aucklandmuseum.com then go
to cenotaph database.
The website for Official Histories is www.nzetc.org/projects/whz/
With Honour, Our Army, Our Nation, Our History,
By Richard Wolfe
ISBN No 978-0-67-004565-5
http://www.armymuseum.co.nz
Casualtie
s for the
NZEF we
124,211
re:
m
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ob
100,444
deployed ilised
59,483 c
o
asualties verseas
includin
g,
18,166 k
illed
iers won 18
New Zealand sold
during WWI
Victoria Crosses
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Draw a periscope rifle
Find out what these terms mean, in relation to trench warfare:
Duckboards__________________________________________________________________________
Dugout
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Firestep
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Parapet
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Sap
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Stand to
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Trench foot__________________________________________________________________________
Research the life of Cyril Bassett – the only New Zealander to win a Victoria Cross on
Gallipoli during WWI.
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Why are tanks called tanks?
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