item details
Overview
This officer's cane is on display at Te Papa in Gallipoli: The scale of our war
War diary
This cane belonged to Nathaniel Swinard who served in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on Gallipoli and the Western Front (his last rank was Second Lieutenant). It is intricately carved with key details and the names of every place he was posted from the time he left for war in 1914. It begins with his service number, troopship and unit as well as the flags he was fighting for. It then charts his progress from his home town of Oamaru, ports of call en route to Egypt, places he was stationed or visited there, and his trip to Gallipoli.
8/116 | HMNZT No. 9 (with fern) | 10th NOR OIB NZ Ex Fc [10th North Otago Rifles, Otago Infantry Battalion, New Zealand]
Pro Patria (with fern) | Union Jack and NZ flag | WRA (with target and rifle) | Kia Ora (with kiwi)
Oamaru (with ferns and heart) | Tahuna (training camp) | Port Chalmers | Wellington
Hobart | Albany Emden | Colombo | Aden | Suez | Port Said | Alexandria
Zeitoun Camp | 2400 (with pyramids) | Kubri No 2 post | Luxor
A 27 Annaberg | Mudros Lemnos | Gallipoli Anzac 25th April | Pope’s Hill 2nd 3rd 4th May
Final entry