1914:01 The Great Adventure

 

The idea of going overseas to help the 'Motherland' seemed like a great adventure. The British Empire was at war and as a loyal Dominion of that Empire; the "Kiwis" were not going to miss out.

 

A chorus of newly-composed patriotic songs were played continuously and the effect was stirring, almost hypnotic. Enthusiastic crowds gathered in the streets of New Zealand towns cheering and singing, reinforcing the national sentiment that it was the right thing to do for young men to flock to the drill halls all over the country and enlist in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF). 

 

"I had a number of mates who were rugby men and that sort of thing and pals, I knew they'd all want to go. So in we got and the whole lot of us went together" 

12/553 Sergeant Joe G Gasparich, Auckland Battalion

 

In October, troopships carrying over 3,800 horses and 8,500 men (Main Body) farewelled their friends and families and sailed from the shores of New Zealand.  Off the coast of Western Australia, the New Zealanders joined 20,000 Australians of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) and sailed in 38 transport ships for Egypt.  There they became the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps after a 'Kiwi', Sergeant K M Little, made up a stamp to be used for paperwork (with the Corps' initials) and a new word was forged in the English language - ANZAC.