1919 - 1939 Inter-War Period

1919 - 1939 Inter-War Period (AW-06-1208-4).
1919
25 April
New Zealand
Anzac Day was inaugurated by an Act of Parliament.
1919
3 May
United Kingdom
A draft of 200 New Zealand troops from Sling Camp formed part of the march of overseas forces through London on 3 May 1919.
1919
30 June
Egypt
The New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade was formally disbanded as the first of its members left for New Zealand. During its three and half years of existence a total of 17,723 men had served in its ranks.
1922
September
Turkey
The Chanak crisis occurred after a Turkish success in the war against Greece allowed them to advance towards the neutral zone guarding the Dardanelles Strait. The British government asked the Dominions if they would join it in taking a stand against Turkey.
1922
16 September
New Zealand
In response to the Chanak Crisis in Turkey, 790 former officers, 11,187 other ranks, and 300 nursing sisters, over a four-day period, volunteered their services for a proposed expeditionary force. It was not raised.
1926
1 June
The total strength of the New Zealand Permanent Force was down to 102 officers and 391 other ranks. The Territorial Force, in which service was still compulsory, numbered 821 officers and 21,218 other ranks.
1931
31 March
19 officers and 117 other ranks of the already small Permanent Force were retired due to financial restraints, leaving a Permanent Force of 86 officers and 263 other ranks. The Territorial Force became a voluntary organisation and its numbers were reduced from 16,990 (in 1930) to 3,655. Net defence expenditure for the financial year was £272,799, compared with £454,828 for the previous year.
1937
8 May
New Zealand
The newly-appointed General Officer Commanding the New Zealand Military Forces, Major General J.E. Duigan, forwarded to the Minister of Defence his proposals for a major army reorganisation. The Territorial Force was reorganised on a field force brigade, rather than on a divisional basis due to the relatively small number of territorial volunteers. The new organisation was to have the ability to rapidly expand if needed.
1939
31 May
As at 31 May 1939 the Army’s Regular Force strength was 100 officers, 15 officer cadets, and 478 other ranks and the Territorial Force comprised 10,364 all ranks, the latter’s increase in manpower having been achieved by a strong publicity and recruiting campaign during 1938. Expenditure for the year 1938/1939 was £706,753.

This page was last reviewed on 19 December 2008 and is current.

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