The History of the Canterbury Regiment N.Z.E.F. 1914-1919

Ferguson, Captain David

Whitcombe & Tombs Ltd, 1921. x + 364pp with 25 maps and 48 b/w photos, First Edition

The Canterbury Battalion was formed on the outbreak of war recruited from the four existing Territorial Regiments in the province: 1st (Canterbury), 2nd (South Canterbury), 12th (Nelson) and 13th (North Canterbury and Westland). The four companies in the battalion were numbered and named after the four regiments, a system unique to the NZEF, which explains why they were numbered 1st, 2nd, 12th and 13th. When the 2nd and 3rd Battalions were formed the same company numbering was used.

. It consists mainly of a compilation of battalion War Diaries and those of brigade and division, supplemented by personal recollections of various officers. The result is a factual unvarnished story. But the indexes are a godsend to researchers and historians alike.

One shows the dispositions of the Canterbury battalions and their companies in front line trenches in France, giving date into the line, date out, whom they relieved, and by whom they were relieved.

Another shows the locations of the battalions when out of the line giving the place, when they arrived and when they left. There is a list of Honours and Awards with date of the London Gazette and the Roll of Honour is in two parts, first up to the arrival of the NZEF in France and second after the arrival in France, with date and how the man died..

This is a straightforward account, intended, as Ferguson explains, to give in a clear and concise manner a record of the doings of the Canterbury Regiment from formation to disbandment and he has certainly done a first class job.......'

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