Cape Expedition facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Cape Expedition
Part of World War II
Map of New Zealand's subantarctic outlying islands
Location	New Zealand's subantarctic outlying islands
Objective	Coastwatching and scientific work
Date	1941–1945
Executed by	Public Works Department
Outcome	No enemy ships sighted, valuable meteorological and other scientific data collected

The Cape Expedition was a secret program during World War II. It lasted for five years, from 1941 to 1945. Its main goal was to set up hidden look-out posts, called coastwatching stations. These stations were placed on New Zealand's far-off, empty subantarctic islands. The New Zealand government decided to start this program in December 1940. It ended when the Pacific War finished in 1945.

Why the Expedition Started

During World War II, New Zealand worried about enemy ships. They thought German ships might be using their distant islands as secret bases.

German Ships and Suspicions

• In August 1939, a German merchant ship called Erlangen left Dunedin, New Zealand.
• It was supposed to go to Australia.
• But people suspected it went to the Auckland Islands instead.
• They thought it might have cut down trees there for fuel.
• Later, the first coastwatchers found areas where trees had been freshly cut. This confirmed the suspicion.
• In November 1940, two New Zealand ships, SS Holmwood and MS Rangitane, were sunk by German raiders.
• This made the government even more worried that the Germans were using the subantarctic islands as hidden bases.

Getting the Expedition Ready

The Public Works Department managed the Cape Expedition.

• The first group of coastwatchers sailed from Wellington on March 5, 1941.
• They traveled on a ship called the Tagua.
• They reached the Auckland Islands on March 10.
• They then went to Carnley Harbour on March 13.

Setting Up the Stations

Three main stations were built on the islands. These were small and well-hidden.

Where the Stations Were

• Two stations were on Auckland Island:
  • At Ranui Cove in Port Ross (north end).
  • At Carnley Harbour (south end).
• One station was on Campbell Island:
  • At Perseverance Harbour.

Who Worked There

• Each station started with four men.
• Later, this number increased to five men.
• At first, they were civilians.
• But from December 1942, they all became privates in the New Zealand Army.
• No women were part of this program.

Station Buildings and Supplies

• The stations used portable, pre-made huts.
• These huts had double plywood walls and double windows for warmth.
• Each station also had a dinghy (small boat) with an outboard motor.
• They were given enough food, clothing, and other supplies for three years. This was because getting new supplies could be difficult.
• A larger ship, the MV Ranui, was based at Waterfall Inlet in the Aucklands. This ship helped connect the stations and could call for help if needed.

Life as a Coastwatcher

The main job of the coastwatchers was to watch for enemy ships. But they also did other important work.

Watching and Reporting

• Their first instructions were to stay hidden.
• Emergency radios were set up in the bushes near each station.
• They watched the sea for any signs of ships.
• They made radio contact with New Zealand every day. They used different times to avoid being discovered.

Other Important Work

Besides watching for ships, the men also:

• Carried out surveys of the islands.
• Took daily weather measurements. These reports became very valuable.
• Observed the wildlife on the islands.
• From June 1942, they started sending daily weather reports.
• Later, trained meteorologists, surveyors, geologists, and naturalists joined the teams.

Leisure and Food

• Hunting was a popular activity for the men.
• It also helped them get fresh meat to add to their preserved food.
• On Auckland Island, they hunted wild pigs, wild cattle, and blue rabbits.
• On Campbell Island, they hunted feral sheep for lamb and mutton.

What the Expedition Achieved

The Cape Expedition did not spot any enemy ships. However, it was still very successful because of its other work.

Scientific Discoveries

• The daily weather reports were extremely useful for forecasting.
• Surveyors, geologists, and naturalists gathered a lot of information.
• During the last two years, a special team completed a full survey of the island groups.
• Many of these scientific findings were later published in a series of books called the Cape Expedition Series.

After the War

• The coastwatchers finished their duties on October 15, 1945.
• However, the Campbell Island station was kept open. It became part of New Zealand's weather forecasting service.
• Robert Falla, a famous bird expert and museum director, helped organize the expedition.

Images for kids

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  Map of New Zealand's subantarctic outlying islands