The Samoa Advance Party had already marched through Wellington from Buckle Street to the awaiting troopships, Moeraki and Monowai, on 12 August and embarked and, apparently, set sail for Samoa at 7 pm that evening. “But the troopers pulled out into the stream and dropped anchor in the lee of Soames Island, for the Admiralty Sailing Orders had not yet arrived.”
The ships were still anchored on the 14 August when the Prime Minister (William Massey) and the Minister of Defence (James Allen) went aboard. Shortly thereafter the ships moved to Clyde Quay and the troops, in full marching order, were put ashore. A public parade was ordered for 4 pm at the Basin Reserve and the troops “officially” farewelled. After the parade “the Band struck up a lively march, and through thronged streets the troops marched back to the wharf and quickly embarking, were lost in the rapidly-falling evening shadows of the port.”
Finally in the early hours of 15 August they departed.
“Saturday, the 15th August, broke mild and calm, with a pale moon in its last quarter dipping over the city as New Zealand's first transports moved from their anchorages, passed under Kau Point, and headed seaward. Wellington was not yet awake, but, passing Seatoun in the still morning air, the boats assembled there under Admiralty orders awaiting entry to Port sounded a rally of whistles, and the Permanent Artillery on the Fort Hill cheered a lusty good-bye: and watchers from Karaka Bay observed a heavy trail of smoke from the Moeraki's funnel gradually take shape and form a perfect horse-shoe over the two ships—a good omen for the gallant expedition.“ [Excerpt From: Stephen John Smith. “The Samoa (N.Z.) Expeditionary Force 1914–1915.”]
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