The Mokoia HMNZT 52 Passenger Cargo steamship 3,502 gross tons 2154 net length 330 ft x beam 43.1 ft (100.6 x 13.1 metres ) one funnel and two masts single screw triple expansion engine with a top speed of 16 knots Service speed rated at 13.5 knots. Accommodation for 212-1st and 124-2nd class passengers 356 Passengers in total Launched 4th Aug.1898 by Wm.Denny & Bros, Dumbarton for the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand Limited 1929 when she was reduced to a hull and sunk at Carey's Bay, Port Chalmers In 1941 the remains were raised for the recovery of the scrap metal and she was demolished down to the waterline and again sunk to strengthen the mole at Otago Heads
1 The bugle call of the 12th N.Z. reinforcements : being the souvenir number of the Mokoia chronicle At sea? 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-6366040
During the voyage to Egypt some of the troopships published a magazine , In my case the Mokoia published “The bugle call of the 12th N.Z. Reinforcements” which on reaching Colombo, Ceylon they got it printed .. in it is a list of the troops on this vessel and my pops Artillery Battery and name is not on the list so im thinking he was on the Navua
On 6th May 1916 Mokoia ( HMNZT 52) departed New Zealand in a convoy with Navua (HMNZT 53) in transporting 12 Reinforcements NZ Expeditionary Force (1st draft), 6th Reinforcements to 1st Battalion NZ Rifle Brigade, 3rd Reinforcements to 3rd, 4th Battalion NZ Rifle Brigade and 4th Maori Contingent. Also carried (part) 6th Reinforcements to 1st Battalion NZ Rifle Brigade in conjunction with Ulimaroa (HMNZT 52). Exact troop numbers aboard unknown .
navua-rppc http://www.flotilla-australia.com/ The Navua Passenger/cargo steamship 2930 gross tons. Length 300' x 42'2" ( 91.4 x 12.9 metres ) Twin screw, triple expansion engine making 12.5 knots built by David J Dunlop Port Glasgow for the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand .
In the book “Regimental History of New Zealand Cyclist Corps in The Great War 1914-1918 “ there is a Chapter on the Voyage taken by the Cyclist Corps on the Mokoia and Navua on there way to Egypt, my pop took the same voyage .The Journey to Egypt took 5 to 6 weeks Churchill Peach Embarked from Wellington New Zealand on 6 May 1916 on either the Mokoia or Navua arriving in Suez, Egypt on 21 June 1916 I dont know if they sailed by themselves or with a Australian convey and some protection , im thinking thats what they did as there was possibly German war ships in the area
The first part of the trip across the Tasman Sea from Wellington was uneventful and the weather was fine for the first few days and this allowed all aboard to settle down comfortably in their new surroundings .The convoy passed through Bass Straits on the sixth day out, and after a very rough passage across the Australian Bight,they arrived at their first port of call, Albany, in the southwest corner of Western Australia on the 18th May, 1916. Fresh supplies ,water and fuel were loaded ,while this was being done leave was granted and nearly everyone went to the town. The towns people treated the men most hospitably and in true Australian style made all welcome. On some voyages the men were not allowed ashore as previous troopships calling en route from New Zealand to the Middle East had allowed the men ashore and they had caused damage after a drinking spree Thus the troops were confined to the ship
On the forenoon of the 20th May 1916 the convey departed Albany the course moved westward to Cape Leeuwin. After passing this Cape the convoy set out for the Indian Ocean towards Colombo,they ran into a heavy S.W. swell where many of the non sailers were sick. Nearing the line the weather was finer and the temperature gradually increased. They crossed on the 31st May 1916, and the usual ceremony of a visit from Father Neptune and his myrmidons was celebrated, the ship's crew providing the "staff." All the novices were shaved and christened, the C.O. being the first. To prevented any horseplay or roughness ,the ceremony was watched by the Master, Captain J. L. Brown
Time on the voyage was spent playing sport, parades, drilles and there were often frequently held concerts , luck for them the weather was fine and the sea was smooth The next stopover was on the Island of Ceylon at the port of Columbo towards evening of the 4th June 1916. Coaling was at once commenced Next day nearly all the troops were taken ashore in barges for a route march through the town, and at the Barracks were treated to "beer," such substance unknown on N.Z. Transports. Fruit was purchased cheaply, also canteen stores. We left Columbo at 6 p.m. on the 6th June 1916, and on clearing the harbour ran into a S.W. monsoon, and for ten days steamed through storm after storm.
The final leg of the voyage took the men across the Arabian sea past the port of Aden and in a direct line for Perim Island, at the entrance to the Red Sea. Six days were spent travelling north in the Red Sea On ythe way the Padre gave some very interesting talks on the histories of various places passed en route. They arrived at Suez on the 21st June, 1916, and entered the basin the following morning, so ending our voyage. We were forty-six days travelling from Wellington Next morning, June 22nd 1916, the ship steamed into the basin where the stores and troops were landed. By noon that day all troops were ashore and allotted to trains, and a little later steamed out en route for camp at Tel El Kebir , other forces went to Ismailia
Now again the book has information that may have been different to what my pop did ..as the war changed troop movements would have changed.and different forces did and went different places .Frederick Churchill Peachs military records did not have where he stayed while in this area I dont know where he did training while in Egypt but it would consist of Drilling, route marching , wagon loading , trench digging and rifle handling but would have all taken place in the desert in very hot arduous conditions The daily routine would have been broken by the issuing of passes to 25% of the men at a time so they could visit Cairo until 10pm .The bustle and noise of a large city would have been fascinating to all the New Zealanders ,the red light area of the city was the subject of much story telling and boasting in later years Pop embarked from Alexandria aboard the Ship HT Ivernia on 26 July 1916 and sailed to England arriving in Southampton on 7 August 1916 a journey of 13 days The next day the 8 of August there were marched from New Zealand Field Depot to Sling Depot which was New Zealands Main NZEF depot at Larkhill Salisbury Plain England
New Zealand Army WWI Nominal Rolls, 1914-1918 The New Zealand Expeditionary Force was the title given to all military forces sent from New Zealand during World War 1.The nominal rolls provide an index of these soldiers and individuals who embarked from New Zealand during 1914 -1918 The rolls were grouped by embarkation date ranges. Initially, the force was reinforced by volunteers, but later conscription had to be introduced to find enough men By the end of the war, approximately 124,000 New Zealanders had served in the NZEF,100,000 were sent overseas to fight in France, Belgium, Egypt, Palestine, and Gallipoli, and of these nearly 17,000 died of wounds or sickness while on active service and another 35,000 wounded but came back home The records contain the enlisted person's name, rank and Regimental number. The Unit or regiment they were in and included personal information such as there next-of-kin, last known address, marital status, occupation and the recruiting district and the reinforcement they were in My Grandfather was in Vol 2 dated January 1916 to December 1916
Each nominal roll was dated as below Vol 1 15 Aug 1914 - 31 Dec 1915 Vol 2 1 Jan 1916 - 31 Dec 1916 Vol 2 Index Vol 3 1 Jan 1917 - 31 Dec 1917 Vol 3 Index Vol 4 1 Jan 1918 - 31 Mar 1919 Vol 4 Index Vol 5 New Zealanders in Australian Expeditionary Force
IMG 1459 page 11 Ancestry.com New Zealand Army WW1 Nominial Rolls 1914-1918 Vol 2 January 1916 to Dec 1916
321431 page 10 320872 page 12 320948 page 13 Ancestry.com New Zealand Army WW1 Nominial Rolls 1914-1918 Vol 2 January 1916 to Dec 1916