Key Terms
British: Persons from all over the Empire (Scotland, Canada, Hong Kong, etc.)
English: Persons from south of the Scottish border and east of the Welsh/ Irish border living in the British Isles.
Kiwi: A person of New Zealand birth.
NZEF: "New Zealand Expeditionary Force", all New Zealand troops serving over seas.
ANZAC: "Australia New Zealand Army Corps", grouping of Australian and New Zealand Troops
World War One: A military conflict from the 28th of July, 1914 till 11th of November, 1918.
German Samoa: A military campaign to take the Island from German control.
Gallipoli: A military campaign on the Gallipoli Peninsula to capture Turkey.
Western Front: A military campaign in Europe from the Belgian coast to the Swiss border.
English: Persons from south of the Scottish border and east of the Welsh/ Irish border living in the British Isles.
Kiwi: A person of New Zealand birth.
NZEF: "New Zealand Expeditionary Force", all New Zealand troops serving over seas.
ANZAC: "Australia New Zealand Army Corps", grouping of Australian and New Zealand Troops
World War One: A military conflict from the 28th of July, 1914 till 11th of November, 1918.
German Samoa: A military campaign to take the Island from German control.
Gallipoli: A military campaign on the Gallipoli Peninsula to capture Turkey.
Western Front: A military campaign in Europe from the Belgian coast to the Swiss border.
History
Originally the Auckland Fencibles, a militia unit formed in 1846. The militia was a key player in the New Zealand land wars, which earned them the battle honour 'New Zealand'.
In 1898 the Auckland district had a plethora of the military formations; Victoria Rifles, New Zealand Native Rifles, Auckland Rifles (Picture right, 1898), Gordon Rifles, Avondale Rifles and Newtown Rifles. These units were redesignated as the 3rd Auckland, 15th North Auckland, 6th Hauraki, and the 16th Waikato: in 1911 by Sir Alexander Godley.
Men that enlisted in the 3rd Auckland were mostly city boys that enlisted to defend their country if need be. In this time period kiwis saw themselves as subjects of the British Empire first, and New Zealanders Second.
In 1898 the Auckland district had a plethora of the military formations; Victoria Rifles, New Zealand Native Rifles, Auckland Rifles (Picture right, 1898), Gordon Rifles, Avondale Rifles and Newtown Rifles. These units were redesignated as the 3rd Auckland, 15th North Auckland, 6th Hauraki, and the 16th Waikato: in 1911 by Sir Alexander Godley.
Men that enlisted in the 3rd Auckland were mostly city boys that enlisted to defend their country if need be. In this time period kiwis saw themselves as subjects of the British Empire first, and New Zealanders Second.
At the outbreak of World War I the 3rd Auckland provided 250 men to the 1000 strong infantry battalion that was raised from troops all over the Auckland region. This unit was named the 1st Auckland Infantry Battalion. With the Wellington, Canterbury, and Otago Infantry Battalions; they formed the 1st Infantry Brigade of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
Meanwhile the rest of the Regiment was deployed to German Samoa to capture it for the British Empire. The regiment was joined by the Royal Navy and stopped at Fiji for guides and bearers. Upon arrival (Pictured right), the Germans surrendered the colony without a fight. Even though the Kaiser told them to fight to the last, not one shot was fire due to the overwhelming show of New Zealand force.
In 1914 and 1915 the unit was shipped over the Pacific and Indian Oceans to Egypt to further their training. On the 25th of April the kiwis landed at ANZAC COVE on the Gallipoli Peninsula. The attack was meant to knock Turkey out of the war, but turned into a blood bath for the British Empire forces. The Auckland Infantry Battalion landed at 12am on the 25th of April. Unlike other units, the Auckland Infantry Battalion took the north flank avoiding Turkish fire when possible, receiving few casualties and advancing so far inland that they had to be ordered to fall back. Reinforced with men from the Canterbury Infantry Battalion and several Australian battalions, the unit repulsed waves of Turkish attacks that day and night. By the 2nd of May the Turkish attacks had faded and the unit was transported to Cape Helles to take part in the 2nd Battle of Krithia on the 8th of May. The New Zealanders took their objective but received heavy casualties. Relieved by English troops the unit returned to ANZAC cove.
Over the hot summer months the front was official "Quiet" but the troops had to painstakingly repulse Turkish raiders, give practical advice to new recruits, and defy the blazing hot sun. But on 7th of August the front roared with activity again with the August Offensive. The Australians made attacks on the Nek and Lone Pine while the New Zealanders advanced on Chunuk Bair. New Zealand Mounted Rifles units cleared the flanks and the Auckland Infantry Battalion cleared the road leading up to the summit of Chunuk Bair. The Unit held the road all day taking heavy casualties, thankfully English reinforcements came just as morale was falling. That night the Wellington Infantry Battalion advanced with cover of darkness and took the summit. 8th and 9th of August the Wellington Infantry Battalion fended off waves of Turkish infantry, losing their commander in the process. They were finally relieved by an English battalion at dusk on the 9th of August. On the 10th of August an entire Turkish division was deployed and retook Chunuk Bair with heavy loses. Marking the end of the offensive. The Auckland Infantry Battalion would take a few weeks to come back up to strength, but they would never get another chance at another offensive.
In 1916 the Auckland Infantry Battalion was one of the last units out of ANZAC COVE on the 6th of January. Now that the confussion of Gallipoli was over, The NZEF was revamped on the 1st of March 1916. Enough fresh troops from New Zealand had arrived to go from a Brigade to a Division with the arrivals of the 2nd Infantry Brigade, 3rd Infantry Brigades and other units. General Andrew Russell was given command of the Division and after guarding the Suez Canal the division was shipped to England in April. In England they trained further at Camp Sling by English officers on European trench warfare.
Deployed on the Western Front of Europe. Just in time for the Battle of the Somme (Battle of Flers–Courcelette). On the 15th of September, 1916 the division was flung into the Somme Sector. The 2nd and 3rd Infantry Brigade spearheaded the attack, with the 1st Infantry Brigade and 4 MARK IV Tanks in reserve. Within an hour 2nd Infantry Brigade took their objective with moderate loses. 3rd Brigade with tanks encircled their objective and captured the majority of the 5th Bavarian Infantry Regiment. Throughout the rest of the day counter attacks were repulsed. The next day 1st Infantry Brigade pushed the left flank of the division to clear German artillery and rifle fire. The division had to remain at their position due to British and Australian Divisions taking longer to capture their objectives. On the 4th of October the front was deemed secure enough to rotate the division out of the line.
In 1917 the New Zealand Division was a winning force for the British Empire, wherever they were deployed they won their objectives. The long defended village of Messines, was deemed an "untakeable position" by an Australian officer because of slope of the advance to the village and it's stone ruins. On the 7th of June, the kiwis made a go of it. New Zealand sappers detonated over 500 tons of explosives to clear initiate defenses (barb wire and listening posts) and create shell holes for the infantry advance. 2nd and 3rd Brigade took the village with moderate loses and 1st Brigade took the other side of the slope. A counter attack was made by the Germans, but was recalled after counter was stalled in no-man's-land.
That is until the Battle of Passchendaele. The battle drained the Kiwis with little results. The New Zealand division was rotated out, and entire Canadian divisions were placed where the kiwis had been fighting by themselves. Instead they were placed on the flank, Polygon Wood sector, and ordered to hold. Despite this, the New Zealand command attempted and was repulsed on 3rd of December, attempting to take a German held chateau. For Christmas the division was rotated out of the line. This was an attempt to raise the division's morale and in hopes that the men would say good things about the war, so as to help conscription back home.
In 1918, the Division was flung into the gap of the collapsing British and French lines during Operation Michael. The Germans were crushing division after division, trying to separate British forces from French forces to make a drive on Paris. That is, until the New Zealand Division arrived to the front and actually retook the ground the English, Australians, and French had lost. After the German advance stalled the Division was given a respite. New men and arms revamped the entire British Forces for the Hundred Days Offensive which was the winning stoke of the war. During this time the Division was famous for capturing Le Quesnoy, a fortified French city that had been occupied by the Germans since 1914. On the 4th of November, The kiwis had to use 40 foot ladders to scale the walls and fight street to street, eventually forcing the remaining Germans to surrender.
The division took up occupation duties in Cologne, Germany. Much to the chagrin of the troops stationed wanting to go home. Those that had signed on previously to 1915 where sent home first in December. The division was formally disbanded on the 25th of March, 1919 With the last officers and men leaving Southern France with General Russell (Who had been there on leave).
The 3rd Auckland was one of the many Kiwi units to serve overseas during the great war. Although never a large force, it was one to be reckoned with. Classified by the Germans as a "Good Assault division", the New Zealanders pushed to take their objectives while others where forced to retire. Their sacrifice can be seen today in the survival of the Belgium state, creation of modern Middle East borders, why certain pacific islands speak English instead of German, and much more. 1 in 10 men alive in New Zealand would serve overseas in the NZEF. While that might not seem like a lot, it was for a country of just over a million people.
Three Victoria crosses were won by members of the 3rd Auckland Regiment in the Great War.
Lest we Forget