Cenotaph Stories

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Three Generations of Service
Nelson Bennett
Collection Technician - Research Support
This article is about the McFarlanes, a family that, like so many others, was marked by the horrors of war through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Their story gives us insight into the struggles of so many New Zealand families in this period.
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Pamela Todd in Singapore
Victoria Passau, Online Cenotaph & Enquiry Service Manager
The New Zealand Army had a long-term presence in South East Asia. Including the 1st Battalion (1RNZIR) base in Singapore post-Vietnam up until 1974. Online Cenotaph has very few records for this period of service and so we jumped at the chance to interview nurse Pamela (Pam) Todd who had served in South East Asia in 1972.
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New Zealand Battalion 5 in Timor Leste
Captain Roger Hovenden (Ret.)
In this Cenotaph Story Roger Hovenden shares his experience of service in East Timor (Timor Leste) between November 2001 to May 2002. Between September 1999 and 2002, more than 5,000 NZDF personnel served in Timor as part of International Force East Timor and others did until 2012, serving with the United Nations.
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Ron Hands: Victor 4’s Chef
Warrant Officer Ron Hands, New Zealand Army, (Ret.)
Warrant Officer Ron Hands (Ret.) kindly provided the following article in response to a call for submissions printed in the Spring 2022 Edition of the Veteran's News. Ron was a Chef with 1RNZIR at Terendak Camp, 1968-1970.
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Remembering the Barbers: From the War to Wilson Street
Matthew Nickless
Collection Technician - Research Support
The Barber family had four sons who served in the First World War. Matthew Nickless’ grandmother still remembers her grandfather and his brothers, and he uses those memories and family stories to trace the path of the family through the war and into peace.
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RNZCT Driver Training Team – Multinational Force and Observers Sinai, 1983 – 1984
Captain Peter Sheppard, New Zealand Army, (Ret.)
Captain Peter Sheppard (Ret) kindly provided the following article in response to a call for submissions printed in the Spring 2022 Edition of the Veteran's News. Peter was a member of the Driver Training Team as part of the Multinational Force and Observers Sinai, 1983 – 1984
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Vietnam through the lens of Lance Corporal Heremaia
Nelson Bennett, Collection Technician Research Support
Lance Corporal Te Hira Wati Heremaia served with both the New Zealand Special Air Service and as part of the New Zealand Infantry Regiment, 1st Battalion. During his tours in Vietnam he took many photos, preserving his wartime experience. Our thanks to Te Hira’s granddaughter, Taylen Heremaia, who got in contact and made the generous offer to share her grandfather’s slides.
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Ayun Kara: a battle and its legacy
Gail Romano, Associate Curator War History
Every year after the end of the First World War until at least 1930, a version of this Christmas message from Richon LeZion in what was then Palestine was sent to selected New Zealand newspapers to be published in honour of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles. The simple but powerful message specifically recognised the battle of Ayun Kara which took place on 14 November 1917.
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Passchendaele
Kristen MacFarlane
Find out why this major World War One battle took place and how it led to two of New Zealand's greatest tragedies amid dreadful conditions.
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Serious business: Women in the Army
Gail Romano
Associate Curator, War History
July 2022 marked the 80th Anniversary of the formation of the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps. Formed in July 1942, it was the last of the three women's services to be established. In this article, Gail Romano (Associate Curator) discusses the history of the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps from its inception.
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