Today in History: Main Body of NZEF sails for war

The Main Body of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force set sail 109 years ago today, arriving in Egypt nearly 50 days later on 3 December. It comprised of almost 8500 men (all volunteers) and 4000 horses aboard 10 troopships and escorted by four warships. It is the largest single group ever to leave New Zealand. Two months earlier the 1400-strong Samoa advance force had left, and over the next four years a further 90,000 New Zealanders would depart for war.