Steve, Jack and Bill Daniel

John "Jack" Daniel (10/3234) was born on the 31st December 1892 at Nuhaka. When war was declared in 1914 he was working as a Railway Clerk at Farndon in the Hawkes Bay. He was 5 foot 10 inches high, weighed 140 pounds, was of dark complexion with brown eyes and dark hair and was unmarried - according to his Record of Military Service.

This section of the Web site is based around the postcards sent between him, his brothers (William "Bill" Daniel and Stephen "Steve" Daniel) and his family while he was on active service. It is something of a tribute to John Daniel, his brothers and the 100,000 other men and women of New Zealand who joined the colours during the Great War. 18,000 of them didn't return including John's brother in law.

He went into camp at Awapuni Racecourse near Palmerston North as a Sapper. The authorities scrambled to equip and train the men but the peacetime Territorial force provided a solid nucleus around which to build an army. The keenness of the men to be part of the "grand adventure" before it ended saw most obstacles overcome.

John' own "great adventure" took him to Samoa, Egypt, France and England. He was wounded at Ypres with a greatly prized "Blighty" which kept him out of the rest of the war.

He died in July 1968.

The postcards illustrate certain aspects of a "typical" New Zealand soldier's experience as well as those of the people at home. Travel, excitement, personal loss, fear and pain are all carefully packed within their sometimes bluff and hearty contents.

Eketahuna
9 Nov 1915

Dear Jack
Just a few lines to you hoping to find you well. Well your time is getting short now and I am sore(?) afraid that I wont get down as Martha never came back and I can find no one to do the cooking. There is a good many here now and I have to be up veery early. I looked forward to going down to see you but it is always my luck. I can never get anywhere. Susy is going down also Willie I do wish I could go but I am sure afraid I do so wish I could get out of the house it  the -----(?) like me if I dont go down send the paper and everything up and I will look after them till you come back. You cannot imagine how upset I feel about not being able to go down. Well Jack  (?) (?) look after yourself as well as you (?) and I trust it wont be long till (?) are back I am sending you a box with a cake and some (?) things I would like to know (?)ere to send it to. I will tell (?) to get you anything you want. (?)ell the weather is cold and wet and things are just the same. Well Jack I cant write any more. (?) I am quite done(?) up. And you must write me before you go so I will have to say goodbye if I dont see you. You will understand that it is not my fault I cant get down as I am feeling it terribly.
Wee I will say goodbye
And remain your loving Mother
H Daniel
I will not forget Martha for this.

To Martha Daniel from her brother John Daniel
Poltair, Heamoor [Cornwall]
1.8.17
This is out in front of Penzance
Dear Tiny
Just a p.c. to let you know I have at last got leave & been doing the sights of this beautiful country. My word it is a glorious place & uncle and aunt have made me very much at home. I am very sorry to have to leave it again. Will write you a letter & tell you all about it. How do you like this p.c.
Best love, Jack

To William Daniel snr. from his son William (Bill) Daniel
Sling [Sling Camp]
Oct 12th [<1917]
Dear Boss
Just a card. Hope this will find you well. I have had leave spending it down in Penzance where they gave me a good time, talk about pasties. No doubt you will know this picture [Zennor Church] I had a good look around Zennor, saw the house you lived in before you went away. They are all very well down there. Suppose I'll be going to France in three weeks. What do you think of the war news these times, won't be long now before it is finished. Well goodbye just now. All well here.
Bill

The New Zealand Soldiers Club, London
Various clubs were established in England for the New Zealand soldiers. The one pictured here described itself in the N.Z.E.F. Chronicles as "Open at all hours for the reception and accommodation of N.Z. soldiers. Fine billiard-room, reading and writing rooms, and every convenience and comfort. Beds for 200 men. Canteen for light refreshments open day and night. Run by N.Z. ladies. Tariff: dinner, 1s.; bed, breakfast and tea, 8d. each. R. H. Nolan, Hon. Sec."

New Zealand Soldiers Club, London
Music room and lounge.

New Zealand Soldiers Club, London
Billiard room.

New Zealand Soldiers Club, London
Corner of the dining room.

New Zealand Soldiers Club, London
Part of one of the dormitories.

To Martha Daniel from her brother John Daniel
Equator
10/12/15
Dear Martha
Just a p.c. to let you know how I am getting along. We have had a great trip so far & are now on the other side of the world passed the Equator today had Father Neptune aboard and I managed to escape from his clutches. The weather is terribly warm now & very unpleasant. We were at Albany [Australia] a fortnight tomorrow & I am very much in love with this town. Will write a letter next time. The mater will give you my address and don't forget to write
Best love
Jack

To Nell Allomes from her brother John Daniel
[Egypt] 3-1-16
Dear Nell
Just a p.c. to let you know that I have safely arrived in the land of the Pharoahs. We had a splendid trip since I last wrote & disembarked at Suez on 10th Dec. We trained 150 miles to Camp 8 miles out of Cairo. Have been into the City several times but have not had the opportunity of visiting any places of interest yet. Will let you know all about them later. This is a p.c. of a street in Heliopolis a suburb of Cairo and a most beautiful town. There are magnificent buildings here as you can see by the p.c. Will write letter next time. Hope this finds you all well. Best love to all.
Jack

To John Daniel from Daisy McN[utt?]
Maraekakaho, H.B. [Hawkes Bay]
N.Z.
17/7/17
Dear Jack
Just a pc this trip hoping it finds you well & happy. Your winter will be pretty well on when you receive this. There has been no mail from France for some time now, so we hope for one soon. Had a letter from Sue [Susan Carter, John's sister] lately. It is hard lives her husband having to go. With best wishes from
Daisy McN.

To Martha Daniel from her brother John
France
Oct 14th 1917
To Tiny
Wishing you a very merry Xmas & most prosperous New Year
Love
Jack

To John Daniel from his sister Anna Susan Carter
Hawera
Dec 31st 1917
Dear Jack
Just a card to let you see that we are both [her baby Maurice] quite well & hope this card will find you progressing alright after being wounded. It is your birthday today & I expect you are spending it in bed. They are all quite well at home. Kitty [ Catherine Daniel, youngest sister] cames as far as Wanganui with me and we go home on Sat. I expect you hear from George [George Carter was her husband, died a week later at Polygon Wood*] now and again. I often wonder where he is and if he is in the firing line. I suppose you will have heard from Steve [their brother] by this time. If they cannot do Maurice any good this trip they are going to send him home. The weather is keeping fine but it has not been as hot as usual. Well Jack I think this is all for this time so will conclude with best love from Susie.

To John Daniel from Daisy Whyte
Hastings North School, H. Bay, N.Z.
15/3/18
Dear Jack
Just a p.c. this trip as my writing pad is finished & I want to catch tomorrow's mail. I was sorry to hear you were wounded but I hope you are getting on well. Perhaps you will get sent home again. Wasn't it sad about poor George Carter, poor Sue's husband. I am so sorry for her & she feels it keenly poor girl. I wonder how Steve is? Alex arrived on Jan 8th & is in the Signallers too.
With best wishes
from Daisy Whyte

153. ANZACs in France. Off to the trenches
A battalion of New Zealanders in full kit, and with handcarts, going out to take their spell of duty in the trenches.

154. ANZACs in France. New Zealanders cheer the King
A happy incident during the King's visit. New Zealanders line up along the road-side to cheer King George as he passes.

157. ANZACs in France. Bread and jam
A party of New Zealanders who have been at work consolidating a trench and are now enjoying a rest with bread and jam.

159. ANZACs in France. New Zealand Premier's visit
The Right Hon. W. F. Massey and Sir Joseph Ward at the Front. They are seen beside a war-plane talking about its capabilities.
[In fact Ward and Massey were often jeered at by the troops they inspected. Then, as now, New Zealanders had little faith in the motives of politicians]

160. ANZACs in France A queue to the field canteen
New Zealanders released from duty. Being all hungry, they adopt the queue plan to avoid a scramble at the canteen.
[It is a national joke in New Zealand that we are a nation of people who automatically form queues]

William Daniel to his sister Martha
Wiesdorf, Germany
Jan 24th 1919
Dear Martha
Just a card. This is a view of Cologne Cathedral, a marvellous building. By Jove that flu was bad over in NZ. Hope you don't get it. It is beginning to get cold here now. Getting a fall of snow occasionally. How are you keeping. I hope this will find you well as it leaves me. Am getting an easy time here, so I am having a good look round. Well goodbye just now.
Bill.
[The New Zealand Division took part in the occupation of German land after the war]