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It is a long way from New Zealand to Great Britain and to the battle theatres of North Africa, Italy and Europe. And a long way home again. Everyone (and everything that went with them) travelled by ship, voyages lasting several weeks and taking the people (men and women) to foreign places many had never heard of. Large passenger liners were taken up into military service for this role, but were given "code" names for each voyage - His Majesty's Transport (HMT) X3 for instance. Many of these voyages resulted in a short publication or keep-sake that some of the men indeed did keep, or posted home.
Some of these shipboard publications contain a wealth of information, anecdote, sketches and humour that give a flavour of the life and hopes of the men. Here are a few.
You can read "Borax" here (named after the 22nd Battalion mascot smuggled onboard) or downlad a PDF version here
HMT 25 was the code name for the Nieuw Amsterdam that took the 5th reinforcements to Egypt in April 1941. HMT 25 had 222 officers and 6066 OR (other ranks) on board.
Read "Ake Ake Kia Kaha" here or you can download a PDF version here.
Read "The Blitztourists" here or you can download a PDF version here.
Read "Tekapo - Victory Voyager" here or you can download a PDF version here.
Last updated: 25 January 2023
