New Zealand and the Great War

Not only was New Zealand’s military effort set quickly in motion; it was also steadily maintained. During the War the strength of the N.Z.E.F. was raised from the 7,761 men, which the Main Body comprised, to 23,904, and it was on this strength that reinforcements were based. The Military Service Act, 1916, made all male British residents of New Zealand between the ages of twenty and forty-six liable for active service. This liability was, of course, subject to certain exemptions. Voluntary enlistment was not superseded by this measure of conscription. Indeed 91,941 of the troops enlisted had volunteered (including 26,000 during the period of compulsion), while 32,270 had been enlisted compulsorily under a system of selection by ballot. Thus nearly three-quarters of the New Zealand forces were volunteers.

New Zealand in 1914 had a population of little more than one million. This included about a quarter of a million males eligible for military service, a high proportion of the total population. The totals of 117,175 called up for overseas ser­vice and 7,036 rendering service at home were a highly creditable achievement for so small a country. The Maori people and the other Poly­nesian groups in the island dependencies also made a splendid contribution to the fighting forces, sending 2,685 men overseas.

New Zealand fitted up and sent away two hospital ships, the Maheno and the Marama, which were well known for their high standards of com­fort and attention. The New Zealand Medical Service was one of the most efficient branches of the national military forces. In Egypt and Pales­tine it coped successfully with problems of tropical medicine outside its home experience. The dental branch of the service was also markedly efficient. The services of the 550 nurses with the forces were highly praiseworthy, and it is melancholy to remember the casualties among them when the transport Marquette was sunk.