H0367 Frederick Jonas (Fred) NAYLOR

Interviewer: Ethel Naylor

Abstracter: Judith Christie

Interview: 1970s

TRACK One

00:00 CAPTAIN JOLLY – WWI Spencer Jolly was a relative. Died of wounds received at Armentieres.

00.45 Self was a member of the ATHOL TERRITORIALS – in August 1914 members were asked if anyone wanted to fight for their country. Self was first to volunteer. Left with JACK BLACK who worked the NOKOMAI CLAIMS. Invercargill doctor examined wounds on self’s legs but passed as fit. Went to TAHUNA in DUNEDIN for training, issued with HORSE. Self was last man to receive a horse, which he saddled and mounted and rode to PARADE GROUND. Horse bucked but didn’t unseat him. Describes

02.50 LIEUTENANT MCINTYRE informed men at parade ground that some men would have to stay behind, but told self he wouldn’t be one of them. Took horses to PORT CHALMERS to ship HAWKES BAY and sailed to WELLINGTON. Trained there for some time. GERMAN WARSHIP at sea somewhere and as no escorts for convoy, some delay. Escort boats then arrived from AUSTRALIA (one THE SYDNEY). When at sea heard that the warship attacked the COCOS ISLANDS. Escort boat shot at warship and damaged.

05.30 44 ships in convoy self travelled on. Could count ships when on top of waves, but at the bottom of the wave didn’t see ships as sea rough. Wasn’t SEASICK but of 32 men in self’s troop only five fit to look after HORSES. Billy CLEARWATER was one of them.

06.20 Ships called in to BOMBAY, INDIA. Then on through the RED SEA – self was frightened as sea made ship roll and threatened to capsize. Arrived at ALEXANDRIA, where trained at ZEITOUN close to CAIRO. No grass for hundreds of miles. LOCUSTS so thick they would blacken the sun, and destroyed crops.

08.00 Self one of those picked to serve under GENERAL SIR IAN HAMILTON as part of bodyguard he was COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF BRITISH ARMY that was to take the peninsula at GALLIPOLI. General would sometimes take three of the bodyguards to Gallipoli to visit. Were relieved by men of the 29TH DIVISION and self was then sent up the peninsula on to WALKERS RIDGE [?].

09.30 Then transferred to NUMBER 2 OUTPOST – scrap with TURKS and self was WOUNDED on the foot with a piece of shell. Crawled along the trenches because self thought foot was blown off, but not badly damaged.

10.45 Troops were relieved at BAUCHOP’S HILL (after Colonel who had died of wounds). Sent to an island of LEMNOS for a rest. Joined by SIXTH REINFORCEMENTS. Returned to peninsula after some weeks.

11.40 Served with OTAGO MOUNTED RIFLES. Returned to peninsula to [WORDS UNCLEAR] then went on to HILL 60.

12.15 Received word that peninsula was to be evacuated. Taken on to a BRITISH WARSHIP. Treated as heroes by British sailors. Self saw the sinking of THE TRIUMPH. Sailors on the ship stood to their guns to the last, even as the SHIP SANK.

13.30 Taken to ALEXANDRIA and stayed for a while, then shipped to MARSEILLE, a port in France. From there went to the CIRCUS in France, near ARMENTIERES.

14.20 Joined the 4TH AUSTRALIAN DIVISION at an attack at FLEURBAIX.

14.50 Then went to PLOEGSTEERT, and then to MESSINES. Self compared it to the charge of the Light Brigade. CHARGED OVER TRENCHES, and MEN AND HORSES KILLED. Describes

16.15 Had a spell from fighting, then transferred to the MACHINE GUN CORPS in 1916.

17.00 Self in FLEURBAIX during the BATTLE OF THE SOMME and didn’t take part.

17.30 Went to COLINCAMPS where GERMANS BROKE THROUGH British and French Lines. Met Germans at 5.00 am and they didn’t get any further. Then went to THE QUARRIES and then to HÉBUTERNE. Was part of the WELLINGTON MACHINE GUN CORPS after being in the 4TH MACHINE GUN COMPANY. Most soldiers were placed in the 3rd Company, with the remainder joining the 4th Company. Men wanted self to be in 3rd company because he was a good FOOTBALLER, but said he would go where he was told.

20.20 First engagement at COLINCAMPS, where men lost. Then had to hold the line at the QUARRIES then to the west of HÉBUTERNE. After that, a man out of each company was chosen to go on leave and as self had the longest record (3 years) was chosen.

22.00 Went to a REST CAMP for 14 days. When returned, heard that DICK TRAVIS had been killed.

22.30 Self called up to see SERGEANT MAJOR, and was asked what actions he had seen. A few days later (1917 or 1918) was told that self and two others with longest service would not return to the firing line, but instead would go on 28 DAYS LEAVE TO NEW ZEALAND.

24.15 Word of BIG ADVANCE, so the three soldiers including self had to return to the fighting. Went to [WORD UNCLEAR] and then to ROSSIGNOL WOOD. Jonesy and an Officer killed. Next place BAPAUME. ROB MCTAVISH and Jones went with self. Next stop was FREMICOURT. ROB (AKA MAC) upset the night before as so close to returning to New Zealand. Awful battle at FREMICOURT. GERMAN PLANES shooting at troops. Managed to take FREMICOURT RIDGE, but ROB (MAC) DIED two minutes after taking the ridge. Self and Officer took twelve German prisoners. Given order to retire, but self refused and dug in along with soldier called JENKINS. Dug for seven feet before stopping. Relieved after some time – as they went out German bombers returned and starting bombing the road. Self dived to the right of the road, and plans strafed the left.

29.10 As self and others had done more stints than anyone else, was relieved. But then went back into another battle at BERTINCOURT. Stormy night and Officer called for volunteers to MAN THE GUN. Jenkins and self volunteered to man the gun – as fast as they dug in, water filled the trench. Dismounted the gun and left tripod there. When returned, the tripod had gone as German shell had destroyed it.

End of Track One

TRACK TWO

00.00 MACHINE GUN COMPANY withdrew from the line. Three soldiers including self called in front of Sergeant Major and were told that they would not return to the fighting. However there was a big advance, and all three go through the first stint. Next stint was LOUPART WOOD where CHARLIE JONES was killed. Next battle was BAPAUME where Rob and self survived. Next battle FREMICOURT where Germans attacked with everything, including air fire. GERMAN AIRCRAFT was hit by 60 pound shell, and the rest of the planes turned tail for home. Ridge taken by Allies, but ROB (MAC) WAS KILLED.

03.00 Was told no more fighting, but No 1 SECTION OFFICER WAS GASSED and could not lead his men into battle, so self had to go. Four new reinforcements and advance on to BANCOURT. Germans started shelling. Four new solders frozen and didn’t know what to do. Were told to get under cover, but a shell landed and killed three of them. That night sergeant asked for two volunteers. Lots of rain. JENKINS and SELF VOLUNTEERED, and manned the gun while others got under cover in the trenches. Tried to DIG IN to get shelter, but rained so hard that trench filled as fast as they dug. Left tripod and took gun into a shelter under a bit of roofing iron. When returned to the tripod in the morning, couldn’t find it as it had been blown up by the Germans.

06.10 When returned from battle, was told by Officer to report to ‘so and so’ and was told he would be RETURNING TO NEW ZEALAND for six weeks holiday. Officer told him once there to ‘take to the bush’ and not return. That Officer went into battle and was ‘riddled with bullets’.

07.10 Went to ENGLAND to camp there for two or three weeks, then set sail for New Zealand. Five days out to sea, ARMISTICE SIGNED. Came through PANAMA CANAL – great bit of workmanship. Then to HONOLULU. Sea very rough, and had to dock to take shelter. Self liked the sea rough.

08.30 Arrived in NZ the day after Christmas 1919. Two days prior, had a foot of snow at NOKOMAI.

09.00 Saw lots of PLANES when in battle. British planes would fly along German trenches shooting at the soldiers with machine guns, and vice versa. Once at POLYGON WOOD very boggy place. A soldier called HUGHEY CHEESEMAN and self were sent to bring in the relief soldiers. Had to dodge the GERMAN SHELLS. TRENCHES were six and seven feet deep and led from front to back line. Self decided to take a SHOT GUN. MACHINE GUNS opened up on them. Ice they were on was thick enough to take their weight. Describes indirect fire, when Germans fired ‘just in case’.

13.00 RELIEVED from that position, and CHEESEMAN (aka Cheesey) and self left the line and MARCHED until 10.00 am the next morning. Cooks brought a cup of tea and food, then self slept on the hard floor of large tents with roofing iron. Slept until dinner time, after eating slept until tea, then slept until morning. Best sleep self had ever had, on the hard floor with overcoat for protection.

15.40 Six inches of snow and ‘cold as Billyo’. MUD WAS ENDLESS. Sometimes slept in the trench in the rain, which poured in. ATTACKED RATS WITH BAYONETS.

16.50 GERMANS GASSED them. Could smell it, and would put gas helmet on. Describes gas mask.

17.50 Army didn’t give men a fair deal. Was told after PASSCHENDAELE was told no more fighting, but didn’t keep their word. Describes going over the top.

18.50 Discussion re interviewer’s brother’s Army Service.

19.20 WWI was a terrible war. Only time soldiers fought along French was when the New Zealanders went in to stop the Germans breaking through further at DOULLENS From there went in lorries to [WORD UNCLEAR] Lorries had to go back smartly, as nearly ran into the Germans. Arrived at another place at 7.00 pm, had a feed, and went to sleep on the ground in their overcoats. Were roused at 11.00 pm to march until ran into the Germans at COLINCAMPS and the Germans didn’t advance any further. Men were lost. FRENCH were behind them, but were not called to fight.

22.10 One man called PETER PATTON on the No 2 Gun was WOUNDED so badly they left him for dead and retired. Three days later advanced again and found Peter still alive in the same place. Was taken to hospital. Sergeant DEVEREAUX [?] was wounded at the same time. Carried his spoon in his pocket, and the spoon was driven into his insides and he crawled out. LIEUTENANT STUBBS was riddled with machine gun bullets.

24.10 First Officer self was under was JIMMIE HARGEST [BRIGADIER JAMES HARGEST] who was a good solder. A chap named SMITH who was knocked about in an attack, but COLONEL BEAUCHAMP [?] said “Take a hold of yourself Smith - look at little Hargest there – lying wounded and not saying a word”. Jimmie Hargest was invalided back to NZ, but returned in charge. Joined Army as a Sergeant and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Was in PARLIAMENT.

26.00 Other officers were CAPTAIN PATTON who was a good officer but swore a lot. LIEUTENANT MCKAY was a nice chap. DAVE MCCURDY from Dipton. Chap named BROWN who was a good bloke. All good officers. Some were killed, including ‘STUBBSY’.

28.00 JIMMIE HARGEST a great man. The situation which brought up the best and the worst in people.

28.30 How long self spent in the TRENCHES was dependent on WEATHER. Six days during the winter time. Cooked own food, no change of clothing. Longer in the summer.

29.20 Sometimes had to dig COMMUNICATION TRENCHES to connect to the front line. Always being shelled.

End of Track Two