Matarae Camp - 29th April 1914
Matarae is a inland area near Dunedin, Otago in the South Island of New Zealand.
In April 1914, the area hosted annual Army maneuvers by the Otago Mounted Rifles and Otago Infantry Regiments.
It was inspected on the 29th of April by none other than British General Sir Ian Hamilton, acting at the time as Inspector-general of Oversea Forces.
The above image, taken at the time of the camp, tents and picketed horses, is part of a group of 10 images which have been mounted on thick card, and may have been framed at one stage in the past, but have been roughly cut up and stained with age and time.
The following article is from the Otago Daily Times, Issue 16076, published on the 18th of May 1914 and compliments the pictures.
In April 1914, the area hosted annual Army maneuvers by the Otago Mounted Rifles and Otago Infantry Regiments.
It was inspected on the 29th of April by none other than British General Sir Ian Hamilton, acting at the time as Inspector-general of Oversea Forces.
The above image, taken at the time of the camp, tents and picketed horses, is part of a group of 10 images which have been mounted on thick card, and may have been framed at one stage in the past, but have been roughly cut up and stained with age and time.
The following article is from the Otago Daily Times, Issue 16076, published on the 18th of May 1914 and compliments the pictures.
- Above: General Sir Ian Hamilton and Officers greeting dignitaries at Matarae on the 29th of April 1914.
"When it was seen that a heavy mist lay close to the ground this morning, those in the Matarae camp were jubilant, for they have come to recognise matutinal mists as foretellers of good weather. Nor were they disappointed today, for when the sun had risen above the horizon the mist rapidly disappeared, and a typical hot, dry Otago central day followed, with a fleckless blue sky overhead.
At half-past 9 in the morning the troops went out, and a big field day followed.
Crowds from the adjacent districts 'drove over in carts and motor cars, and there was a very unusual amount of traffic on the road leading to Mount Ross. Most of the visitors took their stand on a hill near the mount, and had a splendid view of the manoeuvres. At half-past 11 in the morning a special train arrived from Dunedin carrying a good crowd of passengers, and these were met by a sergeant-major and conducted to a point of vantage whence they could view the movements.
At half-past 10 General Hamilton and General Godley motored across from Gladbrock to the scene of action, and were provided with horses. Then the action commenced. The general idea was that Westland and Eastland were at war, and Westland had invaded Eastland. The Westland divisions were advancing eastwards through the hilly country south of Middlemarch. The Otago force formed the left column of the Westland army. On the afternoon of April 28 an Eastland force was located entrenching a position a quarter of a mile west of Mount Ross. During the night the officer commanding the Otago force made a night march under cover of his outposts, and at daylight on the 29th the Otago force, less the Otago Mounted Riflo Brigade, was deployed on the left bank of the Taieri River, north of its junction with the Sutton Stream, ready to advance to the attack on the White position. The Otago Mounted Rifle Brigade, which bivouacked for the night north-east of Middlemarch, had orders to move down the left bank of the Taieri River, and to co-operate with the remainder of the force by moving against the enemy's right flank. The business of the Eastland troops was to delay the advance of the attackers by holding a position occupied a quarter of a mile west of Mount Ross until reinforcements arrived. The umpire staff consisted of Colonel A. W. Robin, Lieutenant-colonel G. N. Johnston, Captain H. M. Edwards, Captain H. C. Glendining, Captain W. M'G. Turnbull, and Captain J. R. Henderson."
At half-past 9 in the morning the troops went out, and a big field day followed.
Crowds from the adjacent districts 'drove over in carts and motor cars, and there was a very unusual amount of traffic on the road leading to Mount Ross. Most of the visitors took their stand on a hill near the mount, and had a splendid view of the manoeuvres. At half-past 11 in the morning a special train arrived from Dunedin carrying a good crowd of passengers, and these were met by a sergeant-major and conducted to a point of vantage whence they could view the movements.
At half-past 10 General Hamilton and General Godley motored across from Gladbrock to the scene of action, and were provided with horses. Then the action commenced. The general idea was that Westland and Eastland were at war, and Westland had invaded Eastland. The Westland divisions were advancing eastwards through the hilly country south of Middlemarch. The Otago force formed the left column of the Westland army. On the afternoon of April 28 an Eastland force was located entrenching a position a quarter of a mile west of Mount Ross. During the night the officer commanding the Otago force made a night march under cover of his outposts, and at daylight on the 29th the Otago force, less the Otago Mounted Riflo Brigade, was deployed on the left bank of the Taieri River, north of its junction with the Sutton Stream, ready to advance to the attack on the White position. The Otago Mounted Rifle Brigade, which bivouacked for the night north-east of Middlemarch, had orders to move down the left bank of the Taieri River, and to co-operate with the remainder of the force by moving against the enemy's right flank. The business of the Eastland troops was to delay the advance of the attackers by holding a position occupied a quarter of a mile west of Mount Ross until reinforcements arrived. The umpire staff consisted of Colonel A. W. Robin, Lieutenant-colonel G. N. Johnston, Captain H. M. Edwards, Captain H. C. Glendining, Captain W. M'G. Turnbull, and Captain J. R. Henderson."
- Above: Sir Ian Hamilton on a borrowed horse, to the right of the picture.
- Above: Officers set out on horse to oversee the manoeuvres.
"The infantry were spread out with their firing line over a very wide area, and their attack consisted of sweeping a wide swath and pinning the enemy in. They were supported by reinforcements. There was a big crowd on the point of vantage on the hill, when they advanced at about half-past 10 in the morning in the usual manner. Scouts were sent, and the advance was made by alternate rushes under cover. The latter was plentiful as the ground of the manoeuvre was a rough schist-covered tract, but it was not long before the enemy on the slopes of Mount Rose, over a low-lying and comparatively level piece of ground about a mile in extent, were perceived. This was just when the infantry advanced, rushing forward hinder cover, had reached the hill where the spectators were, and a rapid crackling fire broke out all around these. Past this hill the ground was very much more exposed, and for a long time the attackers hugged the shelter it afforded."
- Above: Otago Infantry providing fire in the Tussock at Matarae.
"From the summit a splendid view could be obtained, for the lines of men crouched low. rushing forward at intervals, their khaki-clad bodies barely discernible against the brown-tussocky ground. Every rock and every tuft was utilised for shelter. Each line would advance as far as it could, and won, in the opinion of the umpire, it was so heavily engaged that, under actual service conditions, further advance would be impossible, reinforcements were sent out, and the line advanced till again stuck up; the same process being repeated time after time. Whilst the furthest ahead of the lines were in the shelter of the hill a battery behind them began shelling the enemy, who retaliated by starting a battery of their own. Then away to the right another gun broke out, and soon the heavy boom, following a thick cloud of smoke, became so common that the ears became accustomed to it."
- Above: A gun of the New Zealand Artillery in action at Matarae.
- Above: A bit of a chaotic scene, but note the Gun Limber to the right. Packs, blankets and tunic's litter the ground.
"Over the sheltering hill rushed the infantry, and then, away behind, their reserves began to back them up. By short rushes they advanced three-quarters of the way over the level ground intervening between them and the enemy's trenches. They were under heavy fire all the time, and, now that they had arrived so near to their prey, they were met by a particularly heavy repulsive fire, and were unable to advance further for a long time. Reinforcements were brought up time after time, and slowly the line of attack crept up, the supporting battery covering the advance from behind. The Eastland force, however, was defending strongly, and the final rush could not be made at this moment. About 2.25, however, the Mounted Brigade approached. They attacked on the right flank, and the day was won. Cheering madly, the forces worked up the hill and took possession of it. General Hamilton, accompanied by General Godley, Brigadier-General Ellison, Major Ashmore, and staff, followed the manoeuvres closely with field-glasses from various points of vantage. The Minister of Defence (the Hon. J. Allen) followed the attack in a motor car."
- Above: General Sir Ian Hamilton (seated center) and Officers, including a Staff Officer (2nd Right) with red band to his hat and a Lion over Crown to front. The Officer to the far right wears a Artillery Cap Badge to his hat. On the far left, seated, is a 5th (Otago Hussars) Mounted Rifles Sergeant, holding a small Union Jack on a pole. Note how the 5th Cap badge is to the side of the Slouch hat, with cord running beneath and over the flap to a hook above, to hold one side up.
"After the order to cease fire,had been given the officers assembled, and were addressed by General Hamilton on the subject of the attack. He prefaced his remarks by citing that it would not be necessary to go through the usual interrogation of each commander concerning the way in which the troops had obeyed orders, etc., since the whole manoeuvre had been prearranged yesterday.
" Today," continued General Hamilton, "I have seen you engaged in the attack. One may say of the attack, that its three-quarters of war. Give the men health, etc., one merely needs to bustle then to the front, and attack as quickly as possible and as fit as possible. Anybody that defends only and never attacks is bound to be beaten. We see this even in the game of football, for the side which defends its goal only, and makes no effort at attack, is certain to lose the game. This hill here was bound to be taken because no attempt was made at attacking."
"But defence in the dominions, especially in the attacking side of war, is apt to be slurred over. It is considered wicked to think of attacking anyone. You talk here of your Minister of Defence. Mr Allen would be horrified if he were called Minister of Attack. When it comes to tactical work a commander should be a commander of attack, and not of defence. I think that you will all have to make a certain effort of imagination in carrying out elementary tactics, and visualise the enemy, and do as you would do if a real enemy were there. One gets too much into the way of making rushes at 50 yards or so without any clear conception of the meaning of the rushes, and as to whether one will be much better in the position to which one is rushing."
"The first thing a good commander gets in an attack is to develop the energy of his men in that direction; then he decides what points he will take up, and considers how he can take them whilst exhausting or losing as few men as possible. Before taking up a position it is necessary to send out intelligent scouts. This takes place in action, but very rarely in elementary practice. In teaching , men elementary things never show them anything unreal. With reference to today's manoeuvre I may say that I expected to have many criticisms to make, but find that I have actually very few."
General Hamilton then made a few technical criticisms concerning each branch of the troops which had been engaged in the manoeuvre. With the infantry, he said he had no criticism to make, nothing for them but congratulations. They had exercised self-restraint in a way he had not expected, and had refrained from rushing into the attack before their time, though strongly tempted to do so. " I wish," he continued, "to wind up by saying that I am very sincerely surprised, and that I admire the work done to-day. I genuinely admire it because it was a very big order to take troops who work in large bodies so seldom and to develop an attack of this rather complicated nature. Speaking on broad lines, I may say that it was very well done indeed, and very creditably.""
" Today," continued General Hamilton, "I have seen you engaged in the attack. One may say of the attack, that its three-quarters of war. Give the men health, etc., one merely needs to bustle then to the front, and attack as quickly as possible and as fit as possible. Anybody that defends only and never attacks is bound to be beaten. We see this even in the game of football, for the side which defends its goal only, and makes no effort at attack, is certain to lose the game. This hill here was bound to be taken because no attempt was made at attacking."
"But defence in the dominions, especially in the attacking side of war, is apt to be slurred over. It is considered wicked to think of attacking anyone. You talk here of your Minister of Defence. Mr Allen would be horrified if he were called Minister of Attack. When it comes to tactical work a commander should be a commander of attack, and not of defence. I think that you will all have to make a certain effort of imagination in carrying out elementary tactics, and visualise the enemy, and do as you would do if a real enemy were there. One gets too much into the way of making rushes at 50 yards or so without any clear conception of the meaning of the rushes, and as to whether one will be much better in the position to which one is rushing."
"The first thing a good commander gets in an attack is to develop the energy of his men in that direction; then he decides what points he will take up, and considers how he can take them whilst exhausting or losing as few men as possible. Before taking up a position it is necessary to send out intelligent scouts. This takes place in action, but very rarely in elementary practice. In teaching , men elementary things never show them anything unreal. With reference to today's manoeuvre I may say that I expected to have many criticisms to make, but find that I have actually very few."
General Hamilton then made a few technical criticisms concerning each branch of the troops which had been engaged in the manoeuvre. With the infantry, he said he had no criticism to make, nothing for them but congratulations. They had exercised self-restraint in a way he had not expected, and had refrained from rushing into the attack before their time, though strongly tempted to do so. " I wish," he continued, "to wind up by saying that I am very sincerely surprised, and that I admire the work done to-day. I genuinely admire it because it was a very big order to take troops who work in large bodies so seldom and to develop an attack of this rather complicated nature. Speaking on broad lines, I may say that it was very well done indeed, and very creditably.""
- Above: Food preparation at Matarae, with pealing Potatoes. Note the chap second from the left, with slouch hat, His shoulder boards have a curved "N.Z.M.R" title, a number above (which I can't make out, but presume "5"). He is also wearing 5th (Otago Hussar) Mounted Rifle collars. The soldier, far right, has a 5th (Otago Hussars) Mounted Rifles Cap Badge to the side of his Slouch hat. Note the cord again holding the flap back.
- Above: Food being divided up with a Soldier from each section or company coming to get his share, to then be divided again between the men. Note the Officer on the right overlooking the operation, with sword and cuff ranks (sadly which I can't see).
"General Hamilton had lunch in the field, and then took up a position on a low hill overlooking the road. Tho whole division marched past him in the line of route. The sight was most impressive, each of the officers saluting with sword at the point where the general stood. Each of the infantry regiments was headed by its band, playing merrily, and the column took a considerable time to pass. In spite of the hard day's work they had done, the infantry stopped out smartly, and the mounted men sat their horses well, and looked well drilled and soldierly. General Hamilton expressed admiration of tho appearance of the men."
- Above: New Zealand Mounted Rifle troops parading past General Sir Ian Hamilton. Sadly I can't make out a badge to identify which regiment it is.
"The party afterwards returned to tho camp, which was found to be in the occupation of a fairly large crowd of visitors, who swarmed on to every rock and every point of vantage to survey tho men coming in and tho famous general. The ubiquitous photographer was, of course, in evidence. On arriving at the camp General Hamilton, General Godley, the Minister of Defence, and the other members of the party at once went to the railway siding where the special train, with the Vice-regal carriage attached, was waiting to take them to Dunedin. Among tho visitors from Dunedin who were present were Messrs G. M. Thomson, M.P., and C. E. Statham, M.P. At the railway siding General Hamilton was accorded a great ovation. A guard of honor, consisting of the B Company of the 4th Regiment, under Captain Price, was drawn up and the band of the 8th Regiment played. Before the train went the General chatted with several of those about. A very large crowd of visitors and territorials surrounded him and his party. Some amusement was caused by a small party of dusty territorials who danced a haka, and the general laughed heartily, and said: "I have seen Russian soldiers dancing, but this is the limit." The band played "Auld lang syne," but the train did not go for a, while. The regiment was spread over the line further down in their anxiety to see the last of General Hamilton, and the engine driver refused at first to proceed. They were ordered off and the train steamed away, General Hamilton standing on the platform. The band struck up "For He's a Jolly Good Follow," and the men cheered the general to tho echo. Cheers were also given for General Godley."
General Sir Ian Hamilton was within a year of this inspection appointed Commander of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, who's purpose was to gain control of the Dardanelles straits from the Ottoman Empire and to capture Constantinople. He was in overall charge of landing and directing allied troops, including the New Zealanders he inspected here on the Turkish peninsular. This battle generally became known as Gallipoli, and as history shows was a utter failure and cost 8000 Kiwi's their lives.
Least we forget.
General Sir Ian Hamilton was within a year of this inspection appointed Commander of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, who's purpose was to gain control of the Dardanelles straits from the Ottoman Empire and to capture Constantinople. He was in overall charge of landing and directing allied troops, including the New Zealanders he inspected here on the Turkish peninsular. This battle generally became known as Gallipoli, and as history shows was a utter failure and cost 8000 Kiwi's their lives.
Least we forget.