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Old 05-01-23, 12:33 AM
nbroadarrowz nbroadarrowz is offline
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Default New Zealand British Section

My research article.
Nominal Roll, References and photos available on request.

The British Section N.Z.E.F.
New Zealand’s Forward Party

‘War with Germany’ 4th August 1914. With this came a great patriotic rush. Men thronged to enlist. In London on the 12th of August the New Zealand High Commissioner Sir Thomas Mackenzie cabled the Prime Minister Mr. James Allen
‘Large number of New Zealanders wish to serve in the forces as New Zealand unit stop. War Office not likely to entertain offer of New Zealand unit here but suggest that in the event of the New Zealand Contingent coming to Europe their offer be accepted as part of New Zealand Contingent stop. New Zealand Association holding meeting here Friday when I preside. London 12th August 1914.

On the 25th of August 1914, the Prime Minister replied to Mackenzie stating that the services of those New Zealanders living in London should be attached to existing Territorial units for training and that qualified people should be used as reinforcements to units. It was considered that a separate unit would not work within the existing organization of the Expeditionary Force. In mid-September 1914, final confirmation and details were sent to Mackenzie in London. Authorization was given to select cloth and equip up to 250 men, with 1 officer for ever 50 men. ‘They should be clothed equipped and trained as infantry and uniforms should be of New Zealand pattern and facings. No badges except rank should be worn. These will be provided on arrival of Expeditionary Force’.

The commanding officer behind the organization and administration of the British Section, New Zealand Expeditionary Force was Captain Francis Lampen, a New Zealand soldier who was born in India and who was on leave from the New Zealand Army and was currently in England. Lampen was assisted officially by the High Commissioner to England Sir Thomas Mackenzie. The British Section set up offices at the N.Z. High Commissions office at 13 Victoria Street. The administration officers included enlisters, three doctors, a military tailor and record keepers. Men from all over the world were arriving in London to enlist. They came from South America, Canada, United States and Spain and from Pernambuco in Brazil, Sarawak and the Andes. A wide variety of occupations were represented and included engineers, sailors, farmers, painters, artists, soldiers, students, businessmen, journalists, a professional soccer player and men on holiday. Initially some men joined up with British units but once they discovered that a New Zealand unit was being formed a number of them transferred to the new unit. Advertisements were placed in some London newspapers prompting enlistment in the British Section N.Z.E.F. Only those who had lived in New Zealand or had relatives in New Zealand were accepted for service in the British Section. On the 28th of September 1914, 148 men assembled at the Westminster Palace Hotel. They were sworn in and the oath taken by the High Commissioner. A list of names was compiled and is dated 2nd October 1914. The officers present were Captains Lampen and Wright and Lieutenants Fitz-Herbert and Simson. The day after being sworn in the men paraded and drilled on Wandsworth Common in London. On the 7th of October 1914 the Section moved to Bulford on the Salisbury Plain with the intention of acting like a forward party for the Main Body that was expected to arrive in England. The Salisbury Plain was chosen as a site for the camp as it was away from the big city and all its activities and temptations. Initially the British Section lived under canvas while they helped to build wooden huts and facilities for the impending arrival of the Main Body. The first month at Bulford was a combination of equipping, training and camp construction. The men were also inoculated against Typhoid. During this time the unofficial metal and cloth badges were acquired and a month later in their best uniform, badges and clean web equipment the British Section headed back to London to take part in the Lord Mayors procession.

The Lord Mayor of London’s procession is a street procession full of pomp and ceremony. The parade follows the election of the Lord Mayor and in 1914 this historic event was termed the ‘khaki pageant’ in recognition of the armed forces that took part. The parade was held on Monday 9th November 1914 and started and finished at the Guildhall. A program was produced that listed all the dignitaries, the streets of the route and a list of the order of procession. Along with civil organizations there were nineteen military detachments from Britain, one from Canada and the New Zealand Contingent of the Expeditionary Force. This parade and the British Sections inclusion in the procession are important due to the presents of both still and moving pictures that captured the event. A number of photos were turned into postcards, some of which were colorized. These photos show the uniform and unofficial badges that are associated with the British Section. The moving footage of the British Section is brief but none the less significant.
A newspaper article stated that 150 New Zealanders formed the New Zealand detachment although the official report on the parade by Mackenzie states that 100 members took part. In the evening the British Section marched back through London to Chelsea barracks with Captains Wright and Simpson in the front and Lieutenant Skelsey at the rear. The photo below shows Moore-Jones in the left column, second from the front.

On the 12th of December 1914, the British Section marched out of camp with an escort of a band and two Canadian battalions as support. They left Bulford train station for Southampton where they embarked for active service on the ‘Dunera’. The transport reached Port Said, Egypt, on the 24th of December where the British section disembarked two days later. On the 27th of December the British Section paraded in full uniform and equipment at Zeitoun Camp where General Godley told the British Section that they would be given the chance to choose between joining the Army Service Corps or the newly formed 1st Field Company of the NZ Engineers. After the parade and inspection, the British Section marched through the New Zealand camp lead by a band. Two days later on the 29th of December 1914 the British Section fell in for the last time but was already split into two sections.

The personal equipment used by the British Section was the same as that used by the Territorial Force and the Infantry units of the Main Body in New Zealand. The web equipment was the NZ1911 pattern and made by the Mills Equipment Company. The set was based around the carrying of 150 rounds of .303 Caliber ammunition in 14 string tied papers packets as well as 10 easy access rounds. The front pouches had one pocket on top with a row of three pockets below. This system was based on the use of the obsolete Long Magazine Lee Enfield rifle, but the British Section was issued with the newer Mk III Short Magazine Lee Enfield rifles. 500 sets of the Infantry web equipment were supplied to the British Section in late September 1914. Each set included a waist belt; a pair of braces; pair of ammunition carriers; haversack; frog; water bottle carrier; haversack; great-coat carrier; intrenching tool head carrier; intrenching tool helve carrier; pack and pair of supporting straps (the packs and the supporting straps were 1908 pattern web equipment.) Also supplied were 250 Intrenching Tools, 200 short MLE rifles with normal butts; 25 short MLE rifles with long butts; 25 short MLE Rifles with short butts; 250 1907 Pattern Sword Bayonets; 250 1907 pattern Mk II sword bayonet scabbards; 250 Mk IV Oil Bottles; 250 Mk IV Pull toughs, 250 Mk VI enamelled Water bottles; and 60 Tent loops for arms. The NZ1911 pattern web equipment, water bottles and Intrenching tools and the tent arms loops were all taken from a pre-war order placed in April 1914 by the New Zealand Defence Department but had not yet been shipped. Other equipment supplied was 200 kit bags; 200 mess tins and covers; 200 Hold alls; 200 fitted housewives that were all supplied by the Army & Navy Co-operative Society ltd, 200 Blankets were supplied by Phillips & Elkins and 200 waterproof ground sheets. As well as the rifles the War Office supplied 400 .303 Mk II Charger clips and 2000 dummy drill .303 cartridges and 4 Mk II Aim Correctors.

Additional support came in the form of donations for war material. Lampen promoted the British Section at dinners and among the New Zealand War Contingent Association. Mr. Donald Simson donated money for a recently introduced Vickers machine gun and Mr. Norman Dalton of the N.Z.W.C.A. raised enough money for an addition gun with the help of a donation from Mr. E. Horton from Auckland. It is not known if the British Section actually received the guns, but they did receive instruction on the Vickers Gun while stationed at Bulford camp. Mr. Fitz-Herbert donated two heliographs and Mr. and Mrs. Levy denoted a quantity of socks and belts. Mr. and Mrs. Beetham donated a fully stocked modern ambulance to the N.Z.E.F and this was taken to Egypt with the British Section.

As can be imagined, the period of August to December 1914 was a period of great change and constant movement. Lists and rolls of members were produced but these were soon out of date. A comparison of these lists shows the comings and goings of individuals and shows the strengths of the British Section at that time. The first list contains 76 names and is dated 30th September 1914, (although the list was considered incomplete by the correspondent). The second list contains 148 names and is dated 2nd October 1914. The third list and first official roll is dated 12th October 1914 and contains 194 names. The fourth roll is another official roll and contains 232 names. The last list is dated 5th January 1915 and contains 232 names and was published after the unit had been disbanded. The official strength of the British Section in Egypt on 26th December 1914 was 6 officers and 229 other ranks while the total strength of the N.Z.E.F. on the same day was 361 officers, 8226 other ranks and 3725 horses. The Official History states that 6 officers and 234 other ranks formed the British Section. Only one British Section soldier died before the unit was disbanded. Private Ernest Albert Yoxall died from Meningitis on the 27th of December 1914 at Alexander.

As with all soldiers a regimental number was given to each soldier. Generally, the Main Body soldiers were given a service number consisting of two parts, called a bar number, with the prefix indicating to which unit or corps they belonged. The British Section ended up with a number that had three parts, a prefix, a regimental number and a suffix. Most British Section soldiers were given a regimental number on attestation, but this was compounded by the Section being disbanded and the members joining existing units that had already used the same regimental numbers. In Egypt the prefix was added when the soldier had chosen which unit he would join and then if someone in that unit already had the same prefix and regimental number a suffix letter was given, A or B. The official roll of 12th October 1914 lists regimental numbers from 1 to 184 with another two names without numbers and 8 officers without numbers. By looking at the prefix to the Regimental numbers we can see the approximate distribution of the British Section after their disbandment on 29th December 1914. 1- Artillery; 2- Medical Corp; 116- Engineers; 108- Army Service Corp; 1- Canterbury Infantry Battalion; 2- Otago Mounted Rifles; 3- Auckland Mounted Rifles; and 8 went to join the Divisional Headquarters Staff. Most of the men went on to serve in the New Zealand Engineers or the New Zealand Army Service Corps. The numbering system was expected to act as a form of identification as to where a soldier was to be discharged. Initially the authorities left it up to the soldier or the medical staff to identify the special British Section number so that the soldier could be discharged to the country where they enlisted or lived. This system proved unreliable so from November 1915 additional lists were regularly drawn up and submitted to Base Records for all overseas enlistments. The problem came up when two British Section soldiers, Scott and Hamilton were sent back to New Zealand from Egypt for discharge, only having to be sent home to England at the additional expense of the Government.

The badges of the British Section were unofficial and akin to the reinforcement badges that were privately purchased by individual soldiers in the Expeditionary Force training camps in New Zealand. The British Section was meant to act as reinforcements to the Expeditionary Force when the main body reached England and ‘No badges, except rank should be worn. These will be provided on arrival of the Expeditionary Force’. However, the British Section did get cloth and metal badges made. These badges were worn at the Lord Mayor’s procession. The cloth badges were worn on the top of each sleeve about 1 inch below the shoulder seam. They were a red arch with the lettering ‘New Zealand’ in white.

While there is no known example of the metal British Section badge that has proven provenance, a clear period photo or a period description of the badge, there are some details that are known. The badges were only made in the small collar size; no large size cap badges were made. In the centre are the letters NZ. At the foot is a scroll with the word ONWARD and at the top is the Tudor crown, (known as a Kings crown). What is not known is what the badges were made from and the exact design of the surrounding foliage? It is more than likely that the badges were made in either a brass or bronze and that the foliage around the outside represents a pair of New Zealand fern fronds. The widely quoted oak leaf ‘Onward’ badge is the General Service badge that appeared in circa 1916. These badges were available in two sizes and were a private purchase item. To add to the confusion a fern frond ‘Onward’ badge was also available in two sizes, again as private purchase items. The key difference between the fern frond ‘Onward’ collar badges and the British Section badges is in the slight differences to the ends of the bottom scroll. It is not known who made the British Section badges, but it can be assumed that due to the small quantities of approximately 400-500 and the construction method it is most likely that a small badge manufacture or jeweller made them. The badges were worn on the collars of the service dress jacket, the front of the cap and on the turned-up flap of the slouch hat.

The uniforms worn by the British Section were the standard British Army Service Dress uniforms of the time. The Officers jackets were of the War Office pattern and used the Territorial pattern of rank on the cuff. The other ranks jacket was the 2nd version of the original 1902 pattern. The 2nd version was introduced in 1907 and differs slightly from the wartime 3rd version jacket introduced in 1915. The 2nd version of the OR SD jacket had only 1 pair of hook and eye fittings to close the collar whereas the 3rd version jacket had 2 pairs. The British Section was outfitted as Infantry but the red uniform facing on the shoulder straps and the piping of the trousers was not added to the uniforms. The British Section was fitted out with all the necessaries of a soldier. 200 khaki tweed tunics; 200 khaki tweed trousers; 200 overcoats; 200 pairs of Putties; 200 caps; 200 slouch hats; 400 shirts; 200 cardigan jackets and 200 pairs of socks were all supplied by Mr. A Levy. Mr. A Levy of Wellington was a New Zealand Defence clothing contractor who was on holiday with his family in Great Britain between June and December 1914. It is likely that Levy used his influence in the clothing industry to act as a broker and to organize the supply of uniforms to the British Section. The Ladies’ Sewing Committee of the New Zealand War Contingent Association undertook to make shirts for the British Section. Each shirt came with two handkerchiefs in the pocket, a collar stud and a small label with the words New Zealand in red lettering. The 200 cardigan jackets that were acquired came with the help of the New Zealand Association who scoured the local shops and warehouses for a reliable supply. Also, supplied to the British Section were 200 khaki woollen helmets that were supplied by the Army and Navy Co-operative Society, 200 pairs of boots that were supplied by the Cable Shoe company and 12 sets of lance corporal, 12 sets of corporal and 8 sets of sergeant’s stripes were supplied by Hobson and Sons.

The British Section thought that only one service dress uniform was the standard issue to the New Zealand forces. With training, parades and the weather conditions a second set of uniform was a must. Lampen organized for an additional set of jacket and breeches to be made available. These uniforms were made by the firm Harry Hall and were delivered to Bulford camp between October and November 1914. Some of the men paid up front in full for the uniforms while others had a deduction made from their pay. According to Fitz-Herbert the idea of a second uniform and the payment for it was discussed at the attestation on the 28th of September at the Westminster Palace Hotel. The men present agreed to the arrangements and were measured by the tailor Harry Hall. Due to the breakup of the British Section, the time that had lapsed and the deaths of some of the members there was an outstanding amount of 75 pounds 6 shillings 6 pence still outstanding which was chased by Hall. After an investigation, the account was settled out of the public accounts and Lampen was sanctioned for spending money that he had no authority to spend and the supplying of breeches instead of the regulation trousers. There were also questions raised over the cost of the addition uniform suit. The original suit supplied by Levy cost 1 pound 3 shillings and 3 pence. The suit supplied by Hall cost 3 pounds 5 shillings but was a much better quality than that of the issue suit. Once the British Section arrived in Egypt some of the members were disappointed to hear that the soldiers from New Zealand had been supplied with two sets of uniforms whereas those that had enlisted in England only had one uniform provided. This caused concern and some of the men refused to continue to pay for the uniform brought in London.

A slouch hat was provided for formal wear. These hats were similar to what was being worn by the Territorial Force in New Zealand and were worn with the left brim turned up. The British Section had a puggaree that was unique in that it had four folds (the standard New Zealand pugaree had three folds). The British Section used the infantry red colour but had a combination of Red, Khaki, Red, Khaki. At the Lord Mayor’s Procession in November 1914 the New Zealand Section were noted as ‘The get up of the men is smart, the red New Zealand on each shoulder and the two narrow red bands on the wide-brimmed hats, upturned at one side, supply a splash of colour that is effective in the mass’.

Due to the second issue of uniform being a private purchase item it is likely that a surviving example still exists. These private purchase items would have been kept for best and taken home. As most of the British Section members discharged in England and lived in England it is likely that any surviving examples of uniform or badges would be found in England. There is one surviving pair of 1914 dated NZ1911 pouches and associated webbing known. This set is featured in the book New Zealand Army Personal Equipment 1910-1945 on pages 163 & 272. The haversack is named to Snodgrass.

If anyone has any other information, photos, badges or items from the British Section NZEF then I would be happy to hear from you. A positive clear photo of the metal badge would be a great help.

Barry O’Sullivan
31st July 2015

This edition March 2016
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  #2  
Old 05-01-23, 10:48 PM
Phill Lockett's Avatar
Phill Lockett Phill Lockett is offline
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Thanks Barry

This has answered several questions after finding these images.

Here are several Images of WWI Kiwi's in dervice dress uniform,slouch hats and New Zealand shoulder title.

I have had these images in my referance section always wanting to know why would they use the titles and suspected they were Kiwis in Britain at the time enlisting in the British Army but had no further informaton.

I also had assumed they would of used white on Black for the titles and is they are white on red.

Well its good to know the story behind the images, much appreciated.

cheers

Phill
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Old 06-01-23, 01:45 AM
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atillathenunns atillathenunns is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nbroadarrowz View Post
If anyone has any other information, photos, badges or items from the British Section NZEF then I would be happy to hear from you. A positive clear photo of the metal badge would be a great help.

Barry O’Sullivan
31st July 2015

This edition March 2016
Hi Barry, the oakleaf onward "New Zealand General Service" badge and the badges of the NZ British Section have long been a bone of contention between collectors, historians and our NZ badge books.

A year before your 2015 research, these badge enigmas were thoroughly discussed and solved on this forum, including the civilian origins of the onward badge in January 1914, the person most responsible for its design, and the British Sections previously unrecorded Red, Khaki, Red, Khaki puggaree and red New Zealand shoulder title.

The best part of this forum is, a problem shared is a problem solved.

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...tish%2Asection
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Old 06-01-23, 01:51 AM
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atillathenunns atillathenunns is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Phill Lockett View Post
Thanks Barry

This has answered several questions after finding these images.

Here are several Images of WWI Kiwi's in dervice dress uniform,slouch hats and New Zealand shoulder title.

I have had these images in my referance section always wanting to know why would they use the titles and suspected they were Kiwis in Britain at the time enlisting in the British Army but had no further informaton.

I also had assumed they would of used white on Black for the titles and is they are white on red.

Well its good to know the story behind the images, much appreciated.

cheers

Phill
Interestingly, these pictures have been posted before on this forum, and I think that they probably give better detail than the ones you have provided.

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...tish%2Asection

NZ British Section.jpg
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