The Road to Chunuk Bair » Maunganui

Sunday 7th March 1915

lynley — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 23:00:04 +0000

A windy hot and disagreeable day. Dust rising every where and the atmosphere in a tightly laced tent choking. Single skinned tents are no good in this country in the summer time. The sun strikes through so fiercely as to compel the wearing of a hat even in the tent on the sunny side. There was a Brigade Church Parade. Padre Major Luxford preached. He preached one of the sermons he dished up to us on the “Maunganui”. We are beginning to recognize a good many of his best efforts as somewhat familiar, a circumstance which does not enhance their impressiveness. Most of us managed to make up some of our lost sleep during the day.

Thursday 26th November 1914

lynley — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:00:46 +0000

Left Aden about 8 a.m. A calm day. Coast visible on all sides. An interesting days sail. It became known here that orders were awaiting us at Suez and our ship and the Orvieto pushed on ahead of the rest of the convoy.

Friday 16th October 1914

lynley — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:00:13 +0000

A grey cold morning. Reveille was scarcely needed to rouse the men as it being generally known that we were to sail at daybreak everybody was anxious to see the last of N.Z. About 6.30 the Minotaur followed by the Abouki pushed out into the stream and the Maunganui leading the transports followed. Round Seatoun and at every point crowds could be seen and faint cheers reached the transports. We were soon out of the heads and round Terawhiti and the rest of the day was spent in elementary work such as the nature of the deck space allowed. It was a delightfully calm bright day but there were a few cases of sickness. Our first day at sea caused us no regrets.

Wednesday 14th October 1914

lynley — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 23:00:18 +0000

Orders received from Headquarters for final embarkation. In the morning General Leave was granted. Two fresh men, Fisher and Davison, reported to fill vacancies caused by Brookes going home and Shiel becoming medically unfit. At 3 p.m. all transports save the Maunganui pulled out into the stream – a great crowd assembling to see them off. The Maunganui remained at the wharf and leave was granted to a few for the night.

Saturday 26th September 1914

lynley — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 00:00:28 +0000

We proceeded to Trentham by the 9 a.m. train and had a most instructive day on the Range. The mounted troops on Board were ordered to be disembarked and to proceed to various camps first thing next week. The other transports still remain in the stream and we thanked the Gods that we were on the Maunganui.

Wednesday 23rd September 1914

lynley — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:15 +0000

This day was spent in settling the men into their quarters, making arrangements for running messes, and generally in routine work. Leave was granted. In the afternoon a Brigade parade was held at Newtown Park, when the Premier and other prominent men said farewell to the troops. It was a most impressive scene. The proceedings were prefaced by a short religious service. The crowd on the slopes was tremendous. A drizzling rain set in as the troops arrived[?] back through the town, the whole afternoon being most depressing for the men. All the transports save the Maunganui pulled out into the stream. We on our ship hung on waiting for the G.O.C.

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.