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First edition; VG throughout, minor foxing, some marks on spine, but lettering good, pages crisp and clean xv, pgs 634, maps and illustrations. Official history of the New Zealand Division on the Western Front from its arrival in early 1916 to the end of its war effort as part of the Army of the Rhineland. The New Zealand Division served with great distinction, and as a result suffered grievous losses. Over 12,000 officers and men of the Division gave their lives on the Western Front. The text is very detailed and forms an important record of the fighting on the Western Front. The New Zealanders first saw major action in the Battle of the Somme, entering the front on September 15, 1916. From here, they fought at Messines, Passchendaele, and the Somme again in 1918. During the German offensive of March 1918 the Division was heavily involved in the Allied effort to stop the German advance. In the last 100 days of the war, the Division flourished in the freedom of movement gained by the Allies and the fighting war for the Division ended with the storming of the ancient walled town of Le Quesnoy - an action revered to this day. The Division was one of the few that maintained a full strength throughout its existence. The manpower issue was greatly aided by New Zealand's existing Territorial system as well as the keen sense of duty felt by its population. Though conscription was introduced in 1916, the vast majority of those who served in the division had volunteered. The New Zealand Division was rightly regarded as one of the best fighting divisions on the Western Front. Important text. Seller Inventory # 91642
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