New Zealand Division - Definition and Overview

This article is part of the Anzac series.

Military History

Australia | New Zealand

Expeditionary Forces

AIF | NZEF

Corps

ANZAC | I Anzac | II Anzac Australian | Desert Mounted

Divisions

Aus 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th NZ & Aus | New Zealand Anzac Mounted | Aus Mounted

The New Zealand Division was a World War I division formed in Egypt in January 1916 following the evacuation of Gallipoli. At the outbreak of war the New Zealand Expeditionary Force contained a single infantry brigade which was combined with the unattached Australian 4th Infantry Brigade to form the New Zealand and Australian Division which served at Gallipoli. By the end 1915, New Zealand's contingent had expanded such that they could now field a complete division of their own. A second infantry brigade was formed from reinforcements currently in Egypt. A third infantry brigade, the "Rifle Brigade", had arrived complete from New Zealand. The New Zealand Division was originally attached to I Anzac Corps and departed for France in April, 1916.

Unit History

Formation

1st New Zealand Brigade 

• 1st Battalion, Wellington Regiment
• 2nd Battalion, Wellington Regiment (from 2nd NZ Bde, Jan 1917)
• 1st Battalion, Canterbury Regiment (to 2nd NZ Bde, Jan 1917)
• 1st Battalion, Auckland Regiment
• 2nd Battalion, Auckland Regiment (from 2nd NZ Bde, Jan 1917)
• 1st Battalion, Otago Regiment (to 2nd NZ Bde, Jan 1917)

2nd New Zealand Brigade 

• 2nd Battalion, Wellington Regiment (to 1st NZ Bde, Jan 1917)
• 1st Battalion, Canterbury Regiment (from 1st NZ Bde, Jan 1917)
• 2nd Battalion, Canterbury Regiment
• 2nd Battalion, Auckland Regiment (to 1st NZ Bde, Jan 1917)
• 1st Battalion, Otago Regiment (from 1st NZ Bde, Jan 1917)
• 2nd Battalion, Otago Regiment

3rd New Zealand (Rifle) Brigade 

• 1st Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
• 2nd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
• 3rd Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade
• 4th Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade

Battles