The Road to Chunuk Bair

The Regt. proceeded by special train to Trentham where the day was well spent in musketry.

The Regiment went for a march round Oriental Bay. The men of the other ships being mighty glad to stretch their legs.

Regiment marched to the Rifle Range. Company parades. Regiment returned at 4 p.m. During the day a guard was dispatched to Wgtn for the purpose of protecting the Troopships now in the harbour and ready for the troops.

The morning parade was devoted to completing and labelling kit bags and kits. In the afternoon the Regiment went for a route march.

The Regiment in company with other troops in camp was inspected by the G.O.C. Major General Sir. A. Godley, who at the termination of the inspection addressed the troops in his usual tactful and impressive manner. The troops were fallen in on the lawn in front of the Grandstand and made a very fine appearance. [...]

The company remain[sic] in camp and drew their kits and kit bags from store. Capt M McDonnell arrived in camp and took up his duties as adjutant of the Regiment.

Our second quota of men from Wanganui arrived during the day in charge of Lieut. Watson and formed a welcome addition to our strength. The Battalion paraded at 9am and was inspected by Col. Johnstone[sic] the Brigadier and then marched to the Golf Links for Regimental Training. The O.C. visited Capt. Cameron and found he [...]

This morning we had our first regimental parade Lt Col himself being present, and he gave the various detachments a good shaking up, and told officers, N.C.O’S and men some plain home truths. The Regiment then marched through Palmerston North to the Hokowhitu Golf Links where Squad drill was carried out, the Regiment returning to [...]

Major W.H. Cunningham and Lieut F.K. Turnbull left Wanganui by the 7am. train and reported in camp at midday. They then learn’t of the misfortune which had over taken Capt. Cameron the previous day. They found plenty of work awaiting them in the way of organization which had to be tackled at once. S.M. B. [...]

Zeitoun Camp.
January 13th 1914 [sic]
Dear Colonel,
Having a free afternoon to-day I am starting to do that which should have been done before, write up the dairy [diary] of the doings of the Detachment of the 7th Wellington, West Coast, Regiment, serving with the Wellington Infantry Battalion in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (Main Body). Up [...]