New Zealand Forestry Companies in Britain and Europe during the Second World War 1939-1944. Compiled by David Field, 2006

Authors: Anonymous
Publication: New Zealand Journal of Forestry, Volume N.Z.J.For. 2007, Issue N.Z.J.For. 52(1) 2007, pp 13, May 2007
Publisher: New Zealand Institute of Forestry

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Abstract: [First paragraph...]
When Germany cut off traditional timber supply from Europe to Britain in 1939, the British Government sought assistance from Commonwealth countries to harvest and mill domestic forests in Britain. New Zealand foresters, bushmen and sawmillers responded quickly to a call from the NZ Government in January 1940 to form a Forestry Company for service in the Armed Services overseas. Some 600 replies were received, and men were selected and trained as the 11th Forestry Company. The main company of 163 men joined Railway Survey and Construction Companies on RMS Andes and sailed as the 2nd Echelon, 2 NZ Expeditionary Force, via Australia and South Africa, landing in Gourock Scotland on 19 June. German occupation prevented the foresters setting up their sawmills in France, and 11 Company set up logging and milling operations in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire instead. Subsequent reinforcements from New Zealand led to the creation of 14th and 15th Companies too.

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