This film is a combination of two “official” New Zealand World War One films: NZ FIELD ARTILLERY IN ACTION, NEW YEAR’S DAY 1918 and VISIT TO THE NZ INFANTRY BASE DEPOT AT ETAPLES both of which were filmed by Capt H. A. Sanders in late 1917-early 1918. It shows scenes of the NZ Infantry and General Training Base Depot at Etaples in France and a NZ Howitzer Battery in the Ypres Salient during the winter of 1917/1918.
The first scene is double exposed and shows cookhouse fatigues and a squad of soldiers marching at Etaples. A 4.5 inch Howitzer of a forward NZ Battery on the Menin road near Westhoek in the Ypres Salient ceases firing and is covered by the gun crew with a canvas tarpaulin and a scrim net. This cuts to a Christmas scene with the gunners opening tinned Christmas cakes and puddings and passing around cigarettes. Then back to Etaples and the NZ Commandant Lt Col G. (Hoppy) Mitchell DSO MC inspects a reinforcement draft in full kit who then march off to the railway station to entrain for the Front. A bugler sounds a call, with the NZ Depot accommodation tents and cookhouse in the background. This cuts to views of a reinforcement parade at the Depot and soldiers practising Swedish drill.
From notes by Chris Pugsley.