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Gail Romano

Gail Romano

Curator, War History

Gail Romano

Gail Romano is Curator, War History, a historian and researcher interested in the often-overlooked fringe experiences and the personal, social and economic legacies of post-19th century conflict, including an interest in the relationship of the Auckland community to its war-related heritage and the way in which that reflects in the material environment. 

Research and projects

Research and projects

Gail works with the Museum’s diverse collection of war-related memorabilia and her work includes Tohutoa, the medal gallery, along with other war-related display. She has co-organised international, interinstitutional conferences, and spoken and written on the material culture of conflict. Most recently Gail was a member of the New Zealand Memorial Museum Trust’s development team realising the newly opened New Zealand Liberation Museum Te Arawhata in Le Quesnoy, France.

SELECTED RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS

Romano, Gail, & Littlewood, D. (2023). ‘Empire Citizens in Training: Children and the 1913 Visit of HMS New Zealand’. New Zealand Journal of History 57(2), 23-40.

Romano, Gail (ed.) (2023). In the Midst of Death we are in Life: Gallipoli. Auckland War Memorial Museum.

Romano, Gail (2020/21). ‘The invisible tailor: Finding Isaac Calmanson’, Context: dress / fashion / textiles 41, 2020/21, Journal of the Costume and Textile Association of New Zealand

Romano, Gail & Kingsley Baird (eds) (2020). The Enduring Impact of the First World War: A Collection of Perspectives, Bulletin of the Auckland Museum, Volume 21 (2020), print & online.

Abbenhuis, M., N. Atkinson, K. Baird & G. Romano (eds) (2018). The Myriad Legacies of 1917: A Year of War and Revolution, Palgrave MacMillan, Switzerland, 2018.

Stitchwork from wartime Egypt
LATEST ARTICLE

Stitchwork from wartime Egypt

Egypt was the first stop for most New Zealand service personnel on their way to the two world wars. For many it was a relatively short-term stopover before going on to Britain and the continent, but for those who saw service in and around the Middle East, Egypt was an important administrative, medical, rest and recreational centre. Both Zeitoun, the initial large camp in the First World War, and Maadi camp in the Second World War were close to Cairo, and the capital offered lots to amaze, tempt and distract visitors from the other side of the world.

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More articles by Gail

Serious business: Women in the Army

Serious business: Women in the Army

July 2022 marks the 80th Anniversary of the formation of the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps. Formed in July of 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. 
Improving Our Galleries: New WWI Stories

Improving Our Galleries: New WWI Stories

'Doing our Part' is a collection of cases in our WWI galleries that have just undergone improvement. In this blog, some of the team behind the project talk about their process.
A Collie for the Service Corps

A Collie for the Service Corps

On this Purple Poppy Day, Associate Curator, Gail Romano acknowledges the contribution of the mascot Sam. Sam was ‘a handsome English collie dog’ gifted to the Canterbury section of the New Zealand Army Service Corps during WWI.
Death in the Spring

Death in the Spring

In this article, Gail Romano writes on the life of Private Lemuel John Bagnall known as Jack, and the Bagnall family of Auckland. Jack served with the New Zealand Railway Engineers in Samoa, and then later with the Auckland Regiment, during the German Spring Offensive.
What We're Excited To See Again

What We're Excited To See Again

Who better to advise you on the best things to see at the Museum than the very people who put them on display? We asked our curators what Collections items they're most excited to see again when the Museum reopens to help you prepare the perfect must-see list.
A Poem for Passchendaele

A Poem for Passchendaele

Gail discusses New Zealand poet and writer Kevin Ireland's poem, 'A Fine Morning at Passchendaele'.
Stranded on Emirau

Stranded on Emirau

On 21 December 1940, some 500 merchant seamen and passengers were left stranded on an island in the north-east of Papua New Guinea, their ships intercepted and sunk by German raiders.
Jayforce: 75 Years On

Jayforce: 75 Years On

Seventy-five years ago, the main body of Jayforce, landed in Japan. Jayforce is the name given to New Zealand Forces who served as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force, Japan.
Coal-hearted

Coal-hearted

The Brunner Mine Disaster of 1896 remains New Zealand's worst worksite incident. Gail and Wilma Blom, Curator Marine Invertebrates re-tell the stories of some of our country's worst mining tragedies and interrogate the social and economic repercussions of coal mining.
A Khaki Valentine

A Khaki Valentine

Even at the height of the war in South Africa with no access to romantic stationery, enterprising young soldiers made do. Gail examines a heartfelt note written on a torn piece of uniform.
McNeil Brothers on Gallipoli

McNeil Brothers on Gallipoli

Gail discusses the story of the McNeil brothers, one of 55 pairs of brothers who lost their lives on the Gallipoli peninsula, and how Auckland War Memorial Museum’s history collection is keeping the stories alive of those lost in the First World War.
The Zero: Two men and a plane

The Zero: Two men and a plane

Gail explores stories of war and relationships emerging from the Zero plane on display at Auckland Museum. She discusses two Zero pilots: Wing Commander WR (Bill) Kofoed DSO DFC and young Japanese Navy pilot, Petty Officer Sekizen Shibayama.
A gift of remembrance

A gift of remembrance

Auckland War Memorial Museum has recently completed the formal acquisition and cataloguing of memorabilia gifted by the 21st Battalion Association after the veteran’s club in Auckland closed its doors in 2005.