Kiwi Soldier Count at Gallipoli Higher than Believed

New Research Dramatically Increases Number of New Zealand Soldiers at Gallipoli

Research undertaken by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage (MCH) and the New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) has shown that the total number of New Zealand soldiers who served at Gallipoli in 1915 is certain to have been more than 16,000. This new total number almost doubles the original number of 8,556 soldiers implied by General Sir Ian Hamilton in 1919 in his preface to the New Zealand official war history of the Gallipoli Campaign.

MCH Chief Historian Neill Atkinson said the research, which began in November last year, is the most comprehensive investigation ever undertaken into the total numbers of New Zealand soldiers who served at Gallipoli.

“Thanks to Archives New Zealand’s digitisation of First World War service records in 2014, the researchers were able to analyse thousands of individual military service files but soon discovered there were limitations to these types of records.

“First World War military service files recorded a soldier’s military career, movements between units, and illnesses, but were less concerned with placing them in a particular campaign or theatre of war. Sometimes that ‘Gallipoli box’ simply wasn’t checked,” said Mr Atkinson.

Further analysis of unit movements and official war diaries gave a much better understanding of Gallipoli service, but NZDF Historian John Crawford was certain there must have been other records maintained of unit strength, departure of casualties and arrival of reinforcements.

The major breakthrough came in January this year when Mr Crawford discovered the notebooks of the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General (DAAG) of the Australian and New Zealand Division in Archives New Zealand.

“These meticulously kept records detail the movements of Australian and New Zealand Division soldiers on and off the Peninsula during June, July and August 1915 and meant we could calculate the total numbers with a much higher accuracy,” Mr Crawford said.

The research initially looked at 2,429 service records of the 6th Reinforcements, the last reinforcement to reach Egypt before the end of the 1915 Gallipoli campaign. This analysis showed that at least 76% of these men served at Gallipoli, but that military service records alone could not provide a definitive answer. The project expanded to

cross-reference unit administrative files and to search for other relevant material, including the recently-rediscovered DAAG’s notebooks.

The final figure was reached by adding the results of the 6th Reinforcement research, the numbers estimated to be present in April-May 1915, and the numbers from the DAAG’s notebook research. The research methodology was overseen by Statistics New Zealand.

“This figure is by no means final but it’s the most accurate we can achieve using the evidence we have discovered to date,” said Mr Crawford.

Mr Atkinson said the project illustrates how knowledge about our history is constantly evolving as new information is discovered and new interpretations are developed.

“The First World War centenary in particular has provided a valuable opportunity to review and re-evaluate research about New Zealand’s involvement in the First World War.”

ENDS

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