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Cenotaph Stories

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Cenotaph Stories

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Wwi

  • 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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  • 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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  • Achille Carlier, Mayor of Le Quesnoy during the First World War

    Dr Nathalie Philippe, Senior Lecturer University of Waikato, French

    When New Zealanders troops liberated the fortified town of Le Quesnoy on 4 November 1918, the elected mayor of Le Quesnoy was nowhere to be seen. The inhabitants of Le Quesnoy would have to wait for the Armistice to be able to see their mayor once again. So what had happened to Achille Carlier during the war?

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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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  • Tongan Defence Force

    Nelson Bennett
    Collection Technician - Research Support

    The Tongan Defence Force was a major part of Tonga's response to the Second World War, a conflict that would result in massive change in the Kingdom. The Tongans generously opened their lands to the Allies, and the Tongan Defence Force played an important role both overseas and at home.

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  • A Poem for Passchendaele

    Gail Romano
    Associate Curator, History

    To mark this year's anniversary of Passchendaele, Gail Romano writes about acts of remembrance of New Zealand's darkest day. Through poetry, featuring New Zealand poet and writer Kevin Ireland's A Fine Morning at Passchendaele and the temporary memorial Coming World Remember Me, an installation to commemorate the 100th centenary of the First World War.

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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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  • Always in my thoughts

    By Nelson Bennett
    Collection Technician Research Support

    "You are always in my thoughts" was how Richard Grace signed off one of his letters to his dear friend Alice. Their emotional letters exchanged during the First World War was featured in our recent Love & Loss exhibition, this article shares more about the experiences of Richard and his two brothers who served for New Zealand during WWI.

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  • 80th Anniversary of the Women's Royal New Zealand Naval Service

    By Hannah Pym and Madison Pine

    In celebration of the 80th Anniversary of the establishment of the Women's Royal New Zealand Navy. We have highlighted the many roles of Wrens during the Second World War, and the legacy of their service post-WWII.

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