An army marches on its stomach
Raising the main body of the NZEF was a huge logistical exercise and needed to be done quickly. By early August 1914 the first recruits arrived at training camps established in the four military regions across the country (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Otago-Southland). One of the most important tasks, beside basic training, was housing and feeding the new troops.
Tahuna Park in Dunedin was chosen as the initial training camp for the Otago-Southland region. This rare ‘behind the scenes’ footage shows the work of the tin shed cookhouse set up to feed the 1100 men camped there. The Cook Sergeant, with a bandaged arm, orders around the cookhouse fatigues (work teams). Notice how everyone is puffing away on pipes or cigarettes, adding extra fibre, flavour and aroma to the camp stew!
An army marches on its stomach
Raising the main body of the NZEF was a huge logistical exercise and needed to be done quickly. By early August 1914 the first recruits arrived at training camps established in the four military regions across the country (Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Otago-Southland). One of the most important tasks, beside basic training, was housing and feeding the new troops.
Tahuna Park in Dunedin was chosen as the initial training camp for the Otago-Southland region. This rare ‘behind the scenes’ footage shows the work of the tin shed cookhouse set up to feed the 1100 men camped there. The Cook Sergeant, with a bandaged arm, orders around the cookhouse fatigues (work teams). Notice how everyone is puffing away on pipes or cigarettes, adding extra fibre, flavour and aroma to the camp stew!
Year: 1914
Length: 00:40
Credits: Filmed by: Henry C. Gore
Source: Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision
Catalogue Reference: F1147 [Otago Expeditionary Force. Section 1] 1914
Location: Tahuna Park, Victoria Road, Lawyers Head, Dunedin
This is one of three films in Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision’s collection which shows the mobilisation, training and civic farewell to the Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) raised in the Otago and Southland region at the outset of World War One in August and September 1914.
All these films were shot by Henry C. Gore, a prolific Dunedin-based topical film maker. Gore was a photographer by profession. In 1910 he was chief projectionist at Dunedin’s Plaza cinema and also managed Saturday screenings of Haywards Pictures at the Burns Hall. He began filming local events which were shown at the Plaza and also distributed through New Zealand Picture Supplies. He became one of the first New Zealanders to gain overseas film-making experience when he travelled to Hollywood in 1916. After his return he continued to film events in the Otago-Southland region and became one of Dunedin’s leading photographers, operating from a studio opposite the General Post Office for many years.
An army marches on its stomach
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Tahuna Park, Dunedin
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0:00
Scenes at the Battalion cookhouse with fatigues working; everyone is puffing away on pipes or cigarettes.
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0:07
The Cook Sergeant in off-white apron and bandaged arm gives directions.
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0:23
The cookhouse in action, the men are very purposeful and conscious of the camera. One of the fatigues waves his hat at the camera as the Sergeant gives his orders, and men scurry about.