Tales of Three Campaigns 12th Nelson Company. N.Z.E.F.

Tales of Three Campaigns 12th Nelson Company. N.Z.E.F. By Lt Col C. B. Brereton.

Near new hardback with jacket. 378 pages, photos, illustrations. Published by John Douglas, 2014

In 1926, Colonel Brereton who had taken the 12th (Nelson) Company of the Canterbury Infantry Battalion into the Great War in the Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, wrote the well-received first edition of this title. The three campaigns alluded to, were the Battle of the Suez Canal on 3 February 1915; Gallipoli as it related to the Landing at Anzac, and the Second Battle of Krithia at Cape Helles (where the author received a serious head wound); and the Western Front, including First Somme in September 1916 and two periods in the line in the Northern Zone, in and about Armentieres. Although it was only 24 hours or so in duration, the rarely-written-about Battle of the Suez Canal was of signal historic importance. No one was better able to write about New Zealand's role in it, than Brereton. All four battalions of the New Zealand Infantry Brigade were called upon to reinforce the canal defences, when the very real threat of a Turkish attack developed. Only a minor element of them became involved - two platoons of 12th Company, commanded at first-hand by Major Brereton; 100 all ranks. Solely by their musketry skill, they helped deter a brigadesize assault over the narrowest point of the canal. We read his front-line account of their baptism of fire, and his later shrewd analysis of how the Turks should clearly have won, had they conformed to their German-authored plan. Colonel Brereton strongly identified with his soldiery; his concern clearly was with them rather than upwards towards his seniors, and the prospects of personal advancement. He describes the relevant skills brought by them from their rural pursuits.