Special General Order to the NZEF on landing in Suez

[MartinS]

I'm sure there are plenty of similarly non-PC (outright racist actually) quotes from the period, but this one amused me.

SPECIAL GENERAL ORDER

Headquarters, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, H.M.N.Z. Transport No. 3, 30th November, 1914, at Suez.

Special General Order by MAJOR-GENERAL SIR A. J GODLEY, K.C.M.G., C.B., Commanding New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

Immediate steps are to be taken to advise all ranks as to their conduct while in Egypt, particularly as to their conduct towards natives. The natives in Egypt have nothing in common with the Maoris. They belong to races lower in the human scale, and cannot be treated in the same manner. The slightest familiarity with them will breed contempt which is certain to have the most far-reaching and harmful consequences. Every member of the Force in Egypt is charged with the enormous responsibility of maintaining the prestige of the British race.

All ranks should avoid conversation with the natives except on matters of business. They are to be treated with ordinary courtesy, and their point of view being so different from that of Europeans or Maoris, it must be remembered that men must exercise the greatest care in checking themselves or their comrades from becoming too free in their manner.

All ranks are asked to co-operate in preventing a repetition of the regrettable incidents noted in Colombo, or men mixing with the natives, imitating their manner of speech, and indulging in badinage in conversation, which acts only tend to lower the prestige and good name of the Force.

In connection with the foregoing the extreme danger of having any intercourse with native women is to be brought to the notice of the men. Syphilis in a most virulent form is rampant in Cairo, and men having connection with prostitutes are running the gravest possible risks. Forms of veneral disease are far more severe in Oriental countries than in New Zealand or England, and such diseases are certainly far more common.

The native drinks are generally the vilest concoctions possible; are most potent, an almost certain cause of illness, and cannot be taken with impunity.

Officers Commanding Units are to explain the contents of this memorandum to all ranks in addition to merely reading it to the men. The efficiency and good name of the Force as a British Force being, as it is, so dependent on the conduct of all ranks, too much trouble cannot be taken in educating every one in their duties and responsibilities in the novel surroundings in which they shortly will be placed. Egypt being held as it is by force of arms, the self-respect of every individual man of the Force is a factor which cannot be overestimated.

E. W. C. CHAYTOR, Colonel,

Assistant Adjutant-General

[alliekiwi]

All ranks are asked to co-operate in preventing a repetition of the regrettable incidents noted in Colombo

What on earth happened in Colombo?

Thanks for posting, Martin. Where did you come across it?

Allie

[MartinS]

What on earth happened in Colombo?

Thanks for posting, Martin. Where did you come across it?

Allie

Not sure what happened in Colombo other than the usual drinking and whoremongering.

I found the quote in "On the Fringe of Hell - New Zealanders and Military Discipline in the First World War" by Christopher Pugsley (Hodder & Stoughton, 1991)