New Zealand’s logistic contribution to the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2NZEF) during the Second World War is too often glimpsed only in passing—scattered lines in campaign narratives or one-line entries in corps lists. This article assembles, for the first time, a clear, consolidated register of New Zealand logistics units that sustained 2NZEF across its principal theatres of war: North Africa & the Middle East (1940–43), Greece & Crete (1941), and Italy (1943–45). The scope is deliberately bounded, focusing solely on New Zealand formations and excluding the numerous Allied logistics organisations—RASC, RAOC, REME, and those of the Indian, South African, Australian, Canadian, and United States forces—that operated alongside them.

Context: Establishment and early expansion of 2NZEF logistics

The outbreak of war necessitated the creation of the 2NZEF as a new, expeditionary force, distinct from existing Territorial and regular Army structures. Its logistical backbone had to be built at speed—leveraging what existed at home, but scaling far beyond it. Under Lieutenant Colonel Stanley Crump, the New Zealand Army Service Corps (NZASC) began forming for overseas service almost immediately. Within a week of mobilisation, Territorial soldiers and civilian volunteers were concentrated at Papakura, Ngāruawāhia, Trentham, and Burnham for intensive training, laying the foundations for a motorised division sustained by transport, fuel, and supply-chain units.

Ordnance functions for the expeditionary force were organised under a newly established New Zealand Ordnance Corps (NZOC)—separate from the domestically focused NZAOC. Led by Colonel Joseph King as Director of Ordnance Services, the NZOC was raised largely from scratch by drawing on NZAOC depot personnel and civilian staff. A key innovation was the introduction of Light Aid Detachments (LADs) attached to front-line units for rapid repairs, with Captain Sinclair Banks Wallace, the Ordnance Mechanical Engineer, instrumental in recruiting and training these cadres.

Deployment and scaling

The 2NZEF deployed in three major echelons (Advance Party; First Echelon to Egypt, February 1940; Third Echelon to Egypt, September 1940; Second Echelon first to Britain, then joining in Egypt, March 1941). Lieutenant-General Bernard Freyberg exercised broad administrative autonomy to establish bases, lines of communication, and procurement outside constrained British channels where necessary. On arrival in Egypt, New Zealand logisticians met a Middle East theatre strained by post-Dunkirk shortages. The original logistics structure proved insufficient for a fully motorised division, prompting rapid expansion across supply, transport, maintenance, and repair to meet the demands of desert warfare—an effort that would underpin operations in North Africa & the Middle East (1940–43), Greece & Crete (1941), and Italy (1943–45).

NZASC Divisional supply & transport

• NZASC Headquarters (Divisional)
• NZ Divisional Supply Column → 2 NZ Divisional Supply Company (renamed 1942; disbanded 8 Oct 1945)
• 2 NZ Divisional Petrol Company (disbanded 8 Oct 1945)
• 2 NZ Divisional Ammunition Company
  • Second Ammunition Company formed Nov 1942 (both disbanded 8 Oct 1945)
• 4 Reserve Mechanical Transport (RMT) Company (disbanded 8 Oct 1945)
• 6 Reserve Mechanical Transport (RMT) Company (raised 1942; disbanded Nov 1944)

Specialised divisional units

• 14 NZ Anti-Aircraft Regiment ASC Section
• 1 NZ Ambulance Transport Unit
• 18 NZ Tank Transport Company (From 1942)
• 2 NZ Field Bakery Section (later expanded outputs)
• 1 NZ Mule Pack Company (1943)
• NZ Water Issue Section
• NZ Tank Delivery Troop → Forward Delivery Squadron
• NZ Jeep Platoon

Base & Lines of Communication (Middle East/Italy)

• Headquarters Base ASC
  • later 6 NZ Division ASC (for deception), then HQ NZASC Maadi Camp → absorbed into NZ Maadi Camp Composite Company (continued to 26 Feb 1946)
• NZ Base Training Depot (disbanded 1944) → NZ Advanced Base ASC Training Depot (Italy, to mid-1945)
• Base Transport Depot → 17 NZ General Transport Company (LoC transport; integrated into NZ Maadi Camp Composite Company in 1945)
• NZ Field Bakery → NZ Catering Depot (disbanded 1944)
• NZ Cookery School (assumed catering training functions)
• 100 Detail Issue Depot (DID)
• 101 Detail Issue Depot (DID)

NZOC Depots, parks, training & specialist units

• New Zealand Base Ordnance Depot (NZ BOD) – Middle East hub
  • 1 NZ BOD (Egypt; from 16 Feb 1944)
  • 2 NZ BOD (Italy; from 16 Feb 1944)
• New Zealand Advanced Ordnance Depot (NZAOD) – forward mobile depot; later integrated into OFP as an Advanced Ordnance Section (Feb 1944)
• NZ Stores Convoy Unit – sub-unit of 2 NZ BOD for long-haul LoC lifts
• Ordnance Field Park (OFP) – divisional forward supply/repair park
• NZ Divisional Mobile Laundry and Forward Decontamination Unit →NZ Divisional Mobile Laundry from Mar 1942 (Disbanded Sept 1942)
• NZ Divisional Bath Unit (Disbanded Sept 1942)
• NZ Base Laundry (from Sept 1942) → NZ Mobile Laundry (From 1 Oct 1943) → NZ Mobile Laundry and Bath Unit
• Salvage Unit – battlefield recovery and salvage
• Armourers’ School of Instruction (NZ BOD) – weapons maintenance training
• NZ Ordnance Corps Depot (Maadi) – personnel admin/reinforcements (from 26 Jul 1941)

Workshops & maintenance (NZOC until transfer to NZEME on 1 Dec 1942)

• Base Ordnance Workshops & Technical Training Centre (from 1 Oct 1941) → retitled 6 NZ Division Ordnance Workshops (6 Jul 1942)
• 1 NZ Ordnance Field Workshop (from 16 Jun 1941)
• 2 NZ Ordnance Field Workshop (from 16 Jun 1941)
• 3 NZ Ordnance Field Workshop (from 16 Jun 1941)
• 2 NZ Divisional Ordnance Workshops (from 26 Jun 1941)
• 5 NZ Infantry Brigade Workshop Section (from 1 Aug 1942)
• 6 NZ Infantry Brigade Workshop Section (from 1 Aug 1942)
• 4th New Zealand Armoured Brigade Workshops (formed around the cadre of 11 LAD)
• 14 NZ Anti-Aircraft Workshops Section
• NZ Ordnance Corps Training Section (workshops cadre/training)
• 31 Light Aid Detachment (Base) – merged into Base Ordnance Workshops Jan 1942

Light Aid Detachments (LADs) – NZOC to NZEME transfer on 1 Dec 1942

• 9 LAD – 4 Field Regiment
• 10 LAD – 5 Field Park
• 11 LAD – HQ 4 Infantry Brigade (later core of 4 NZ Armd Bde Workshops)
• 12 LAD – 27 NZ (MG) Battalion
• 13 LAD – 2 NZ Divisional Cavalry
• 14 LAD – Divisional Signals
• 15 LAD – 7 Anti-Tank Regiment
• 16 LAD – 5 Field Regiment
• 17 LAD – HQ 5 NZ Infantry Brigade
• 18 LAD – 6 Field Regiment
• 19 LAD – HQ 6 NZ Infantry Brigade
• 31 LAD (Base) – see above

Demobilisation/closure

• NZ BODs, NZAOD, OFP and remaining NZOC units – formally disbanded by 26 Feb 1946.

New Zealand Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (NZEME) — formed 1 Dec 1942 (from NZOC repair/maintenance functions).

Light Aid Detachments (LADs)

• 9 NZ LAD (4 Field Regiment) — disbanded 15 Dec 1945
• 10 NZ LAD (5 Field Park) — disbanded 15 Dec 1945
• 13 NZ LAD (2 NZ Divisional Cavalry) — disbanded 1 Nov 1944
• 14 NZ LAD (Divisional Signals) — disbanded 15 Dec 1945
• 15 NZ LAD (7 Anti-Tank Regiment) — disbanded Dec 1945
• 16 NZ LAD (5 Field Regiment) — disbanded Dec 1945
• 35 NZ LAD (22 Motorised Battalion) — formed 1 Dec 1942; disbanded 1 Nov 1944
• 38 NZ LAD (18 Armoured Regiment) — disbanded 15 Dec 1945
• 39 NZ LAD (19 Armoured Regiment) — disbanded 15 Dec 1945
• 40 NZ LAD (20 Armoured Regiment) — disbanded Dec 1945
• 41 NZ LAD (HQ 2NZEF) — formed May 1943; disbanded Dec 1945

Workshops & repair units

• 4 NZ Armoured Brigade Workshop — formed 1 Dec 1942; disbanded 21 Sep 1945
• 6 NZ Divisional Workshop — formed 1 Dec 1942; retitled NZ Maadi Camp Workshops 1 Nov 1944
• 2 NZ Divisional Workshop — ex 2 NZ Divisional Ordnance Workshop; operated to 4 Jan 1946
• NZ Advanced Base Workshops — formed 6 Dec 1943; disbanded 31 Dec 1945

Recovery

• 1 NZ Armoured Troops Recovery Unit — formed Apr 1943 → 1 NZ Heavy Recovery Section Nov 1944; disbanded 17 Sep 1945

Training

• NZEME Training Company — formed Dec 1942

NZEF theatre/army-level logistics enablers (1940–1946)

Port Detachments (NZEF)

• 1 NZ Port Detachment — Suez HQ; formalised 20 Dec 1942; disbanded 1 Nov 1945.
• 2 NZ Port Detachment — Benghazi → Tripoli; disbanded 30 Jan 1946.
• 3 NZ Port Detachment — Bari (Italy); formed 8 Nov 1943; disbanded 26 Feb 1946.

Medical Supply (NZMC within NZEF)

• NZ Medical Stores Depot — established Oct 1940 (Capt Gordon Peek); disbanded 26 Feb 1946.

Corps-level supply nodes

• New Zealand Field Maintenance Centre (FMC) – Section “A” → 1 NZ FMC — formed 18 Oct 1941, redesignated 5 Dec 1941; operated to 27 Apr 1942; recalled and disbanded 2 May 1942.
• New Zealand Field Maintenance Centre (FMC) – Section “B” → 2 NZ FMC — formed 18 Oct 1941, redesignated 5 Dec 1941; operated to 27 Apr 1942; recalled and disbanded 2 May 1942.

Note: Thereafter, 2NZEF drew from higher-Corps FMCs (numbered series, e.g., “50s” for XIII Corps, “60s” for XXX Corps) manned by British troops.

New Zealand’s Second Front: 2NZEF (Pacific), 1940–44

The 2NZEF raised a distinct Pacific Section to defend Fiji, initially centred on 8 Infantry Brigade which landed on Viti Levu in November 1940. After Japan entered the war, the force expanded to two brigades and was formally designated as the Pacific Section, 2NZEF, under Major General Owen Mead. When the United States 37th Division assumed the Fiji garrison, the New Zealand formation redeployed home. The Pacific Section subsequently became the 3rd New Zealand Division, the 2NZEF’s primary formation in the Pacific. After a period of training in New Zealand, the Division fought as tailored brigade groups in the Solomon Islands campaign of 1943–44—specifically, on Vella Lavella, the Treasury Islands, and the Green Islands—rather than as a whole three-brigade division.

In early 1944, a national manpower crisis—balancing the need for two overseas divisions with the requirement for essential agricultural and industrial output—forced a strategic choice. Following consultation with British and United States authorities, Wellington prioritised the 2nd Division in Italy; the 3rd Division was withdrawn to New Caledonia in June, returned to New Zealand in August, and was formally disbanded on 20 October 1944. Roughly 4,000 veterans were posted to reinforce the 2nd Division; the remainder demobilised to civilian roles.

Against this operational backdrop, the Division built a theatre-specific sustainment system aligned to US logistics. NZASC carried out reception, trunking, rations, POL, and field services; NZOC managed receipt/issue, accounting, repair, and recovery—and unlike the Middle East, first- and second-line repair remained within NZOC (no NZEME split). The model was proven in Fiji (1940–42) and then scaled in New Caledonia (late 1942–44):

Fiji (1940–42)

Fiji was New Zealand’s first defended base in the South Pacific and the springboard for later operations. From late 1940, the NZASC and NZOC established an island-wide sustainment network—port reception, road/rail/coastal lighterage, depots, and first- and second-line repair—that matured into the model carried forward to New Caledonia and the Solomons.

NZASC

• Headquarters, Divisional ASC (cadre) — policy/trunking coordination as the garrison approached divisional strength.
• 4th Composite Company — Suva/Samabula: port clearance, ration issues, local lift to 8 Infantry Brigade Group.
• 16th Composite Company — Lautoka/Namaka/Nadi (from January 1942): western area support to 14 Infantry Brigade and RNZAF at Nadi.
• Reserve Motor Transport (New Zealand & Fiji Sections) — vehicle assembly, convoying, inter‑island interfaces, and surge trunking.
• Movement Control detachments — Suva and Lautoka wharf organisation and clearance.

NZOC

• DADOS office — technical control and accounting; integration with NZASC issues and returns.
• Base Ordnance Depot — Suva/Samabula/Tamavua: receipt/issue/returns; armoury; tailoring/textiles (uniform and tent repair).
• Divisional Ordnance Workshops — HQ/Main (east) with B‑section (west): MT and armament repair; roving fitters; instrument work as capacity grew.
• Ammunition points — segregation by nature, humidity mitigation, and range supply/accounting.
• Fiji Section (from mid‑1942) — residual ordnance/workshop capacity supporting the Fiji Infantry Brigade Group and RNZAF Nausori after divisional redeployment.
• Light Aid Detachments
  • 20 Light Aid Detachment — arrived November 1940; first‑line repair/recovery for 8 Brigade; based initially at Suva/Nasese area.
  • 36 Light Aid Detachment — arrived early 1942; supported Fiji Infantry Brigade Group and residual tasks.
  • 37 Light Aid Detachment — arrived early 1942; aligned to 14 Brigade; forward tasks in western area.

Medical Stores

• Advanced Depot of Medical Stores (ADMS): Set up at Tamavua Hospital in 1941 (one sergeant, one private, one dispenser).-  equipped two hospitals, two light field ambulances, a convalescent depot, an infectious-diseases hospital, and RAPs for two brigade groups.

Norfolk Island (N‑Force), 1942–44

New Zealand agreed with US command to garrison Norfolk Island in late 1942. N‑Force was a weak brigade‑type grouping (~1,483 personnel over its lifetime) with limited vehicles (≈117 total), requiring tight movement schedules, careful road maintenance, and high utilisation of scarce transport.

NZASC

• Composite/MT Detachments — local distribution, ration issues, POL, and engineer/AA ammunition lift under island constraints.
• Movement Control — wharf/boat‑landing control, surf boat interfaces, and cross‑decking to lighter craft.
• Field Bakery Detachment — bread supply for the garrison as required.

NZOC

• Ordnance & MT Workshop Section — first‑/second‑line repair retained within NZOC (no NZEME split in the Pacific).
• Ordnance Section — receipt/issue/returns, clothing/textiles, and ammunition accounting adjusted to island stockholding levels.

Tonga (T‑Force), 1942–44

T‑Force, based around 16 Infantry Brigade Group, garrisoned Tonga from late 1942. The force totalled ~860 personnel and was issued ≈221 vehicles (as at February 1943), reflecting greater mobility demands across dispersed sites and the need to interface with US movement plans.

NZASC

• Composite/MT Detachments — port clearance, ration and water distribution, and inter‑island/airfield runs.
• Movement Control — coordination with US shipping/air movements; beach‑landing control where required.
• Field Bakery Detachment — bread supply for garrison and detachments.

NZOC

• Ordnance & MT Workshop Section — first‑line repair/recovery
• Ordnance Section — depot functions (receipt/issue/returns), clothing/textiles, and ammunition handling appropriate to garrison scale.

New Caledonia (late 1942–44

After a period of reconstitution and training in New Zealand, in late 1942 the Division re-based to New Caledonia and, under US Services of Supply, consolidated a west-coast logistics corridor—from the Nouméa/Népoui ports through Base Supply Depots at Vallée de Limousin to the Bourail BOD and Moindah Workshops—knitting reception, trunking, and issue via NZASC MT/MC while first- and second-line repair remained within NZOC..

NZASC

• HQ Divisional ASC (CRASC & staff) — policy, priorities, and synchronisation with US Services of Supply.
• Base Supply Depot (BSD) No. 1 — Vallée de Limousin (Nouméa area) rear buffer; staging at Dumbéa.
• Base Supply Depot (BSD) No. 2 — forward stocks up the west coast road system.
• Movement Control Detachments — Nouméa & Népoui port/rail interfaces; launch Roa for water transport.
• Camp McCrae Port Detachment (≈550 personnel) — three-shift port clearance alongside US units.
• 10 Reserve Motor Transport Company — HQ Moindah; swing lift and major port-clearance/worked convoys.
• Composite Companies (island distribution)
  • 4 Composite (Népoui/Plaine des Gaïacs, 8 Inf Bde);
  • 16 Composite (Ouaco–Koumac/Taom River line, 14 Inf Bde);
  • 29 Composite (Néméara–Bourail–Houaïlou, Div Troops).
• 4th Motor Ambulance Convoy (4 MAC – deployed to New Caledonia January 1943. Cars were positioned with field ambulances across the island and at 4 NZ General Hospital (Boguen/Dumbéa), Base Camp Reception Hospital (Téné) and Nouméa.
• 1 Field Bakery Detachments — bread supply at base/forward as required.
• 1 Field Butchery

Solomons (1943–44):

• Guadalcanal
  • HQ Div ASC (fwd) staged onward movement to assault groupings; ASC elements moved via Efate on US shipping.
  • 4 MAC linked ports, airstrips and hospitals in the evacuation chain.

• Vella Lavella (18 Sep 1943
  • 10 Motor Transport Company ran bulk dumps and onward cross-loads (engineer plant, aviation stores, ammunition).
  • 4 MAC maintained casualty mobility under rain, raids and primitive tracks.
• Treasury Islands (27 Oct 1943)
  • 4 Motor Transport Company opened the beach-group roadhead and pushed early priorities.
  • 4 MAC Detachment
  • BSD No. 2 Detachment
  • Field Bakery Detachment.
• Green Islands/Nissan (15 Feb 1944)
  • 16 Motor Transport Company provided the main lift;
  • 10 MT Detachment
  •  4 MAC Detachment.
  • Field Bakery Detachment.

NZOC

Base depots & workshops — New Caledonia (late 1942–44):

• Base Ordnance Depot (BOD), Bourail — central distribution; textiles/tent repair capability recorded.
• Divisional Ordnance Workshops, Moindah
  •  HQ/Main Workshop
  • Armament Section
  • No 1 Recovery Section
  • No 2 Recovery Section

Light Aid Detachments (NZOC in Pacific):

• 20 LAD (Fiji 1940–42; New Caledonia/Solomons 1943–44)
• 36 LAD (Fiji residual 1942–43)
• 37 LAD (Fiji 1942; Vella Lavella 1943)
• 42 LAD (from Jul 1943, with 38 Field Regiment)
• 64 LAD (Treasury Islands 1943–44)
• 65 LAD (New Caledonia/Green Islands 1944)
• 67 LAD (New Caledonia 1943–44)
• 29 LAA Workshop (section) (Vella Lavella/Green)

Solomons (1943-44)

• Guadalcanal (Lunga–Kukum–Matanikau)
  • Advanced Ordnance Depot (AOD)
  • Advanced Ordnance Workshops (AOW)
    • Armament Section
    • Section of HQ/Main Workshop
    • Recovery Sections Nos. 1 & 2
• Vella Lavella
  • detachments of 20 & 37 LADNo. 2 Recovery Section Detachment
  • 29 Light AA Workshop (section).
• Treasury Islands (Mono & Stirling)
  • 64 LAD as principal mechanical element; ammunition breakdown and refrigeration/distillation plant maintenance; radar support under persistent air threat.
• Green Islands/Nissan (Operation SQUAREPEG) — mission-tailored
  • ‘Squarepeg Workshop’ combining vehicle/artillery/instrument trades with radar and a tank workshop section; reduced parties from 20 & 65 LAD; small 29 LAA Workshop team.

Medical Stores

New Caledonia (late 1942–44

• ADMS:  established a large warehouse at Téné (Racecourse Camp)

Solomons (1943–44):

• Guadalcanal FMC:
  •  ADMS forward section opened alongside AOD/AOW
• Vella Lavella
  • ADMS forward section
• Treasury (Mono/Stirling)
  • ADMS forward section
• Green Islands (Nissan)
  • ADMS forward section