Description
Object description
New Zealand scout served with Natal Field Force and British Army in South Africa during Boer War, 1899-1901; served as officer with Anzac cavalry on Western Front, Gallipoli, Salonika, Egypt, Palestine and Mesopotamia, 1914-1919
Content description
REEL 1: Background in New Zealand and South Africa, 1883-1899: death of parents in Krakatoa eruption, 1883; description of upbringing by Maori family; story of being found by English aristocrats and taken to Natal, South Africa to be educated, 1893; question of Maori and English names; story of conscription into Natal Field Force; opinion of Maoris; description of daily life with Maori family and developing tracking skills; story of bird; reaction to leaving New Zealand; further comments on education in Natal; description of living arrangements with Maori family; question of maturity; memory of shearing sheep and other agricultural activities; attitude to Maori upbringing.
REEL 2 Continues: Aspects of period in South Africa, 1893-1899: description of traveling through South Africa and Kenya; development of knowledge of terrain and different ethnic groups; derivation of town names; memory of meeting Joseph Chamberlain and other leading politicians. Recollections of operations as scout with Natal Field Force and British Army during Boer War, 1899-1901: description of arrival of British troops and Boer invasion of Natal, 1899; comparison of British Army and Boers; attitude of Boers to outbreak of war; description of role as chief scout to General French; amusing story of horse nicknamed Quagga.
REEL 3 Continues: continuation of story about Quagga and explanation of name; description of unorthodox uniform and ability to infiltrate Boer forces; question of being multi-lingual; further memories of Quagga; further comments on role as chief scout to General French and other senior British officers; use of Heliograph for sending messages; story of guiding Plumer and Mahon during relief of Mafeking, 5/1900; description of events known as 'Black Week', 12/1899; question of British troops wearing conspicuous uniforms; problem of lack of scouts; story of meeting Winston Churchill after his release by General Smuts.
REEL 4 Continues: opinion of Churchill's writings on Boer War; opinion of strength and efficiency of Boer forces; description of various actions in Ladysmith area; comparison of British and Boer weapons; further comments on 'Black Week'; problem of lack of scouts and ineffectiveness of outriders; question of morale; description of siege and relief of Ladysmith, 1/1900; role liaising between senior officers and guiding troops into Ladysmith; description of conditions in Ladysmith and Boer positions; casualties and problem of dysentery and cholera; morale of civilian population in Ladysmith; description of the relief of Kimberley and conditions in town, 2/1900; question of Boer defences; role as scout with General Hunter.
REEL 5 Continues: further comments on relief of Kimberley and surrounding area; strategic importance of Kimberley; further comments on role in relief of Mafeking. 5/1900; question of effectiveness of British strategy and advice to Plumer and Mahon; story of entering Mafeking with advance party and lack of opposition; story of meeting Baden Powell and advising him on scouting techniques; question of Baden Powell copying his style of hat; description of conditions in Mafeking following siege; memory of Baden Powell leading armies out of Mafeking; further description of conditions in Mafeking during siege; reaction of civilian population to relief; improvement of morale following relief of Mafeking; opinion of Kitchener and his strategy; problem of transporting troops from ports to battlefield.
REEL 6 Continues: story of naval guns being transported from Durban to Ladysmith and role in siege; opinion of Zulus and other ethnic groups; description of Kitchener's system of blockhouses and opinion of effectiveness; opinion of Boers and guerrilla tactics; question of Boers not fighting on Sundays; amusing story of Lady Sarah Wilson escaping from Mafeking; question of treatment of British and Boer POWs; reason for establishing concentration camps for Boer women and children; description of camps and problem of disease; memory of meeting Arthur Conan Doyle working as doctor in camp hospital; opinion of medical services and problem of losses through enteric fever and other diseases.
REEL 7 Continues: opinion of medical treatment of women and children in concentration camps; effect of captivity on women; question of medical treatment for wounded men in the field; problem of lack of doctors and medical supplies; role of stretcher-bearers; effect on morale of Boers following capture of Cronje and forces at Paardeberg, 4/1900; memory of various British and Boer senior officers; assessment of contribution to war effort; story of Quagga's retirement and death; memory of witnessing signing of Peace Treaty at Vereening and amusing anecdote about Kitchener, 1902; reaction to end of war and reflections on period of service; further comments on medical services.
REEL 8 Continues: Aspects of period in GB, India and New Zealand, 1902-1914: question of nationality and pay; medals; trained as doctor at London University, 1902-1907; travel and employment in various countries; returned to New Zealand and joined cavalry unit at outbreak of First World War, 1914; story of employment in India as architect working with architect Lutyens on building of New Delhi; question of rank. Recollections of operations as Anzac cavalry officer on Western Front, 1914: description of journey to Western Front via Marseille; transport and care of horses; memory of troops retreating from Mons; location of cavalry on salient near Mont St Michel; amusing story of meeting General French and obtaining artillery support.
REEL 9 Continues: opinion of Anzac cavalry; fighting qualities of Maoris and use of kukri. Recollections of operations in Salonika and Gallipoli, 1915: description of journey to Salonika, Greece, 4/1915; story of influenza epidemic and role as doctor; question of lack of military action; re-joined Div at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, 8-12/1915; description of landing at Suvla Bay; opinion of overall strategy of Gallipoli campaign; description of conditions and role of cavalry; problem of insects and disease; question of morale
REEL 10 Continues: Recollections of operations in Egypt, Palestine and Mesopotamia, 1915-1918: description of cavalry charge against Turks near Jerusalem; role of cavalry clearing ground for infantry during Third Battle of Gaza; story of entering Mesopotamia and memory of Jewish festival; nature of terrain and conditions; tactical role of cavalry; description of being wounded during cavalry charge at Kut-el-Amara, 4/1916; nature of wounds and treatment; story of receiving Military Cross from Allenby.
REEL 11 Continues: Various recollections of military service: question of role of cavalry during First World War; story of cavalry action at Le Cateaux, 1914; question of relations between British and Anzac forces and comparison of leadership styles; comparison of Boer War and First World War; opinion of French and Germans; further comparison of Boer War and First World War and opinion of generals; memory of cavalry procession under Arc de Triomphe, Paris.
