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Documents Relating to New Zealand's Participation in the Second World War 1939–45: Volume I

313 — The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Governor-General of New Zealand

313
The Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs to the Governor-General of New Zealand

10 August 1940

Information has been received by the Army Council that a Survey Battery is required in the Middle East. You will recall that in the War Office telegram of 3 October 1939 to the General Officer Commanding, New Zealand Military Forces,1 inquiry was made as to whether the New Zealand Government would be prepared to provide a Survey Battery based on War Establishment 3/1931/13/4, and that it was stated in your telegram of 6 November2 that the New Zealand Government had decided to defer the formation of a Survey Battery until information was available as to the future of the first contingent of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

In view of the plans which have now been made for the concentration of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Middle East, it is hoped that the New Zealand Government will be prepared to increase their Corps troops in the Middle East by raising a Survey Battery for despatch to that area after the necessary military training. The War Office consider that, before they are fit for action in a theatre of war, personnel should have three months' military training, followed by a month's survey and technical training.

The position as regards equipment is that survey equipment (especially theodolites) is very scarce, and it would probably be six months before such a unit could be completely equipped from United Kingdom sources. Therefore, we should be glad to know to what extent equipment can be provided from New Zealand if the New Zealand Government agree to provide the battery.

2 Not published.