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Cenotaph Stories

  • Ella Cooke

    Ella's plans for a working holiday in England were dashed by the outbreak of war in 1914. Listen to excepts from Ella's diary where she talks about her time in the French Flag Nursing Corps.

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  • 'ATA-girl': The Fab Five of New Zealand Aviation

    By Dr Gabrielle Fortune
    Historian

    They were called 'ATA-girls' (attagirls) female pilots who served with the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) during the Second World War. During the war 168 women served with the ATA, including five New Zealand Women who paid their own way to England for a chance to fly.

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  • Māori Mobilisation: Wartime, Peacetime, Covid-19-time

    Dr Aroha Harris
    University of Auckland, History Department

    Historically, major crises – whether war or disease – that took and disrupted far too many lives also generated unreservedly Māori responses, often paying attention to whānau and community health and wellbeing. Dr Aroha Harris ponders iwi Māori capacity to mobilise throughout the 20th and 21st Century.

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  • Jayforce: 75 Years on

    Gail Romano
    Associate Curator, History

    To mark seventy five years since the arrival of Jayforce in Japan. Gail Romano, shares some of the stories of those who served in Japan in recognition of their service.

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  • Wishes came true for a truly nice person

    Pauline Weeks
    Online Cenotaph Volunteer

    Many women who signed up to ‘do their bit’ in World War Two were also looking for excitement, a career move, a chance to go overseas or wanted to join other family members who were also serving. Muriel Isabella Moss Borthwick (Anderson) achieved all these wishes.

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  • World War Voices - identifying speakers in wartime radio recordings

    By Sarah Johnston
    Sound History Researcher (Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Rākaipaaka)

    During the Second World War the National Broadcasting Service Mobile Unit recorded interviews and reports about the fighting and the day-to-day business of war, as well as thousands of simple messages home from servicemen – and a few women. Sound History Researcher, Sarah Johnston explores their stories.

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  • Love in Wartime: War Weddings

    By Dr Gabrielle Fortune and Madison Pine

    During the Second World War marriage in New Zealand continuously rose, reaching a record high in 1946. Here, we have shared some of the stories of New Zealand servicemen and women and their whirlwind romances.

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