With thanks to Andrew Mackay and Jane Tutte via Andrew’s Facebook page:
Published in “The Taranaki Herald” on 31 December 1918, this appears to have been written by a member of the 5th (Reserve) Battalion, New Zealand Rifle Brigade (Earl of Liverpool’s Own), which was then serving at Brocton Camp in Staffordshire.
The battalion had been stationed at Sling Camp on Salisbury Plain since June 1916, but the accommodation at the camp became overcrowded and on 15 August 1917 the N.Z.R.B. Reserve Troops were moved to tents at Tidworth Pennings. However, the canvas camp would not be suitable for the troops as colder weather approached and an alternative station was required. It was decided to quarter the battalion on Cannock Chase, where more suitable hutted accommodation was available, and on 27 September the battalion entrained for Brocton, which lies at Cannock Chase between Stafford and Cannock. The strength of the N.Z.R.B. Reserve Troops at this time was 1,925 all ranks, and they were joined by the 27th Reinforcement, which had disembarked at Liverpool from New Zealand and had arrived at Brocton ten days previously.
The units were reorganised to become the 5th (Reserve) Battalion, The New Zealand Rifle Brigade, and Brocton Camp was designated the New Zealand Rifle Brigade Reserve Depot. The “Dinks,” as the Riflemen were known, remained on Cannock Chase until 14 June 1919, when the last detachment of the 5th (Reserve) Battalion left Brocton for Codford Camp.
Sources: The poem was kindly provided by Historian and author Andrew Mackay and the link to information regarding the lyrics was provided by Jane Tutte:
https://ourwar1915.wordpress.com/2017/09/28/the-battalion-national-anthem-a-verse-from-the-dinks/?fbclid=IwAR3cCPnmS1zDK9REo-K1H32a5W2XOd9nW5Ko9LVgxo9Z5yiJ9EdBQomkv8s
