British Section NZEF

[sigcollector]

First picture is taken in france early 1917 with General Service Set?

Second 1917 with General service badge...

I have no scanner so I had to take photographs of my photos so not as sharp

[pukman]

Here is a series of photo's,taken from the Otago Witness pre 1917.Most of the soldiers wearing the general service Onwards badge were Gallipoli veterans and/or convalescing in England.Note that unlike the British section soldiers ,some wear hat size badges on their headwear.

[pukman]

More pre 1917 general service Onward badges

[atillathenunns]

WW1 New Zealand General Service Badge post card.






This one is my favourite.

[stevjp]

Guys, great thread and great work.
Attached are a few recent buys.
On the left a Oldham 4/229
Middle, the seller stated it was WW1 (no evidence) and came with a NZR title. Certainly a nice strike and has superb slider to back.
On the right, slight variation on the standard WW1 Exp Force Cap Badge - has slightly wider ferns at the base and the "NZ" sits slightly higher.
Regards James.

[pukman]

Its a big thanks to Tinto and James for participataing in this thread.Like you guys, Brent and myself are avid collectors.We like to research our chosen field of collecting .While their has been some mistakes made in Publications in the past,we mean no disrepect to the authors .Rather we wish to carry on the research which was started by these respected body of works,and enhance their findings,pure and simply.

[atillathenunns]

I am pretty sure that all the NZ members of this forum have heard of HMS New Zealand. According to Wikipedia she was “one of three Indefatigable-class battlecruisers built for the defence of the British Empire. Launched in 1911, the ship was funded by the government of New Zealand as a gift to Britain, and she was commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1912. She had been intended for the China Station, but was released by the New Zealand government at the request of the Admiralty for service in British waters.”

The interesting part is that HMS New Zealand’s first commander was Captain Lionel Halsey who introduced two mottos for the crew of New Zealand’s famous battlecruiser.

The first motto was — “Fear God; Honour the King”
Captain Halsey explained that if they did not fear God they might as well be dead and buried, and if they did not honour the King they had no right to be in the Empire.

The Second motto was — “Onward”
Captain Halsey explained that it meant ‘onward and upward to the right goal.’ They must have truthfulness, obedience, and respect for those in authority.

On the 17th April 1913, on the decks of HMS New Zealand, Maori chiefs of Ngati Raukawa presented Captain Halsey with a piupiu (Maori garment of war)
Rere Nikitini, in addressing the officers of HMS New Zealand said. —
“This ship bears the name of our islands. It was presented on behalf of the people to His Majesty by our Prime Minister Sir Joseph Ward. We the Maori people entirely concurred in the gift, and, we realise that some part of its cost has come direct from the land of our ancestors. We are under the mana of England by special treaty—the Treaty of Waitangi. We are under the protection of England therefore we give her a battleship. As to these garments let them be as sails for your ship, carrying you to distant shores, and even to the presence of war if that should happen- let them be a further inspiration to you at that awful day—if the day comes—when our ship should clear for action.”

On the 28th August 1914, HMS New Zealand's first wartime action was at the Battle of Heligoland Bight. Captain Halsey wore the piupiu over his uniform, setting a tradition that was followed for the duration of the war.

On the 4th July 2005, the family of Captain Halsey returned the piupiu to the Chief of Navy, Rear Admiral D.I. Ledson at the New Zealand High Commission in London. A ceremony was held at Te Taua Moana Marae to welcome home the piupiu. The piupiu was then handed over to the NZ Naval Museum for safe keeping and subsequent display.

The following extract is from the Evening Post newspaper and is dated 9th May 1942.
“NEW ZEALAND'S MOTTO
WAR AND THE FUTURE.
When New Zealand's national emblem was designed, our forefathers embodied a simple motto —the word "Onward." It is a motto that will never become out of date.”

The question of how our forefathers came up with the word “Onward” as our national motto is highly debateable, but I personally suspect that the Australian motto of “Advance Australia” which dates back to 1821, was probably the biggest inspiration.

The second biggest inspiration was a New Zealand national anthem dedicated in 1887 by the Caledonian Society of Wellington to Sir William Jervois, who at that time was Governor of New Zealand.

The first verse of that anthem is as follows—
Onward! New Zealand ever, marching with dauntless heart;
Onward! New Zealand, never from freedom's path depart.
Light of the southern sea, home of the brave and free, Glorious and great to be!
Onward! New Zealand ever.



The first recorded move to establish a Coat of Arms for New Zealand was a design competition in 1906.
The competition was readvertised in 1908 and 75 designs featuring everything from kiwis, sheep, cows, moas and lions to stars, ships, British soldiers, Māori warriors and Union Jacks were received. Three entries were sent to England for judging.
The winning entry was by James McDonald, a draughtsman in the Department of Tourist and Health Resorts. A Royal Warrant granting armorial ensigns and supports was issued on 26 August 1911 and published in the New Zealand Gazette of 11 January 1912. These arms, known as the 1911 arms.
(The 1911 Coat of Arms was replaced in 1956 by the current coat of arms, which features the words New Zealand in the bottom scroll instead of the motto Onward)

Just out of interest, on the superstructure of HMS New Zealand was a “life size” New Zealand Coat of Arms which was carved by Rasleigh Pinwell of Plymouth, from solid teak that was 6 inches in depth.

[Tinto]

A very interesting post, Brent! Thanks for that.
I hope you can trace the designer of the first ONWARD fernleaves badge.
Cheers, Tinto

[atillathenunns]

Originally Posted by Tinto

A very interesting post, Brent! Thanks for that.
I hope you can trace the designer of the first ONWARD fernleaves badge.
Cheers, Tinto

Tinto indeed our NZ history is very interesting.
Unfortunately with so many interesting military forums and auction sites, it takes me over an hour each day just to browse thru them, leaving little time for me to post what I want to.

If I get a chance tonight I will start my post on who was most responsible for the design of the Onward badge, to who it was issued and when it was issued.

Brent

[atillathenunns]

[Tinto]

Marvellous pictures, Brent. One appears to be taken at the commissioning of HMS New Zealand, looks like King George V, Winston Churchill and others there.
Many Thanks for showing them.
Cheers, Tinto

[atillathenunns]

Originally Posted by Tinto

Marvellous pictures, Brent. One appears to be taken at the commissioning of HMS New Zealand, looks like King George V, Winston Churchill and others there.
Many Thanks for showing them.
Cheers, Tinto

Tinto, well spotted, it is indeed King George.

H.M.S New Zealand was laid down in June 1910, launched in July 1911 and was commissoned at Devonport on the 23rd November 1912.

The previous and following photo of King George aboard H.M.S New Zealand was taken in Portsmouth just before she departed for New Zealand on the 8th February 1913.



Some of the crew.



H.M.S New Zealand had crew complement of 789 officers and men of whom two officers and about 50 members of the crew were New Zealand born.

[atillathenunns]

The following picture is of Calliope Dock Chapel at Devonport Naval Base.
Note the familiar wooden plaques on the wall and what looks like a pulpit on the left.

[Tinto]

Great lot of photos, Thanks Brent. A magnificent carving! Cheers, Tinto

[atillathenunns]

Originally Posted by Tinto

Great lot of photos, Thanks Brent. A magnificent carving! Cheers, Tinto

Tinto, the following link shows the first WW1 “Onward” coat of arms to go into battle as they look today in their current setting.

http://www.navy.mil.nz/visit-the-bas...m@pageno=2.htm

The following link shows items from H.M.S. New Zealand held at Te Papa museum that can be viewed on line.

Of special interest is the very last item that is a silver ‘Kettledrum’ presented to HMS New Zealand by the Women's Patriotic League in 1913. (Click on the kettledrum and then click on the coat of arms picture)

The other item that you may find interesting is the 1905 Gunnery trophy that is next to the kettledrum, which belonged to the first battleship that was named H.M.S. New Zealand.

http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/Theme.aspx?irn=1049

The following photo was taken just prior to HMS New Zealand being launched.



The following photo shows the front of HMS New Zealand and was taken on the 1st July 1911 just before being officially launched by Lady Ward at Fairfield ship building yards in Glasgow.



The following photo was taken just after the launching.



This photo shows a crewman and gun of the first battleship to carry the name ‘HMS New Zealand.’
Note the Maori head that has been carved on the guns tompion by a member of the ships company.



The first HMS New Zealand was ordered under the 1902/03 Naval Estimates and built at Portsmouth Dockyard. She was laid down on 9th February 1903, launched by the Countess of Onslow on 4th February 1904, and completed in June 1905.

The first HMS New Zealand battleship was renamed HMS Zealandia on the 1st December 1911.