The Pākehā troops were soon given shore leave, but due to South Africa's policies of racial segregation, the men of the Māori Battalion were kept on the ship for four days. Cape TownĪfter reaching Cape Town on, the Aquitania anchored at a nearby naval base. May, four days after leaving Fremantle, the ships were diverted to South Africa - intelligence reports suggested that Italy was about to declare war on theĪllies and potentially blockade the Red Sea. After being joined by other troop ships in Australian ports, the convoy sailed for Egypt, where New Zealand's 1st Echelon had already established its base.
Three months of training, the Māori Battalion's main body of 681 men sailedįrom Wellington with the 2nd Echelon of 2NZEF aboard the famous luxury linerĪquitania.
Troopship Aquitania ready to depart Wellington.
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