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This is the second of three surviving segments of a film showing of the mobilisation, training and civic farewell to the Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) raised in the Otago and Southland regions at the outbreak of World War One, between August and September 1914. It was shot by Henry C. Gore, a prolific topical film maker based in Dunedin.
While the first segment (F1147) shows a civic reception and camp scenes, this is much shorter and shows a brief glimpse of the men of the NZEF from the Otago and Southland provinces marching through Dunedin on 21 September 1914. 600 men of the Otago Mounted Rifles made up the three squadrons of the 5th, 7th and 12th Regiments and 1,115 of the Otago Infantry Battalion made up of four companies each 227 strong; Otago, Southland, North Otago and South Otago. In addition fifty Mounted Rifles from the Canterbury Mounted Rifles were also on parade.
Otago Mounted Rifles trotting up Stuart Street towards the Octagon. Brief glimpse of the Otago Mounted in the Octagon watched by crowds. The Otago Battalion marches through the Octagon.
From notes by Chris Pugsley.