The Road to Chunuk Bair » Entraining

Tuesday 22nd September 1914

lynley — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:02 +0000

Reveille 4 a.m. A cold sharp morning but in view of our departure everything and everbody[sic] was soon on the move. Breakfast was soon over, luggage packed and away to the station and the spare time was devoted to cleaning camp, which was left as spic and span as it had always been kept. Our train was soon up at Awapuni Siding and the men carrying their kits soon extrained[sic]. We arrived at Wellington about 1.30 p.m. and the detachments marched to their respective boats, our company proceeding to HMNZ.T.No.3, the T.S. Maunganui. Capt Watson who went down ahead, met us at the boat and as every bunk was marked with the man’s name we soon had everyone stowed away. It was expected that embarkation would be completed by Wednesday and that troopships would move out on Thursday or Friday. The rest of the day was spent in settling down and getting the hang of the ship.

Monday 21st September 1914

lynley — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:00:43 +0000

Advance Guard despatched to Wellington. Company parades. Everyone hard at work packing up. Definite orders for intraining[sic] received. We start for Wellington tomorrow.

Thursday 3rd September 1914

Gillian Tasker — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:00:05 +0000

The weather still keeps magnificently fine and the Regiment at 9.15 a.m. marched out for inspection and then proceeded through Palmerston North along Rangitikei Line for a route march. The Company going out acted as an Advance Guard. The Regiment returned to camp after lunch on the Road. The distance covered was 13 miles and the men came through very well. On arrival in camp we learnt that an early move to Wellington was probable, and a platoon was detailed to report at Palmerston North Station to assist at entraining the artillery.