Displaying items by tag: ww1

The photo is from the National Archives in Wellington. [ AD1 10/407/3] It shows conscientious objectors on the Waitemata troop ship being forcibly dressed in military uniforms.

Fourteen New Zealand Conscientious Objectors were secretly forced onto a ship and sent to France during the First World War. They were treated very harshly as the military authorities made efforts to intimidate the men, wear them down and break their spirit. They continued to resist, even though this made conditions...

Quand j’ai commencé mes études de français au début du collège, je ne m’attendais pas à ce que je sois sur les champs Elysées pour le quatorze juillet, cent ans après le commencement de la première guerre mondiale. Mais c’est devenu une réalité pour moi en deux mille quatorze.

The Young Ambassadors Shared Histories Tour defined my 2014. It took me to the backstreets of Paris, the Eiffel tower, a tiny apartment in Montmartre, Caterpillar Valley, Arras, Le Quesnoy and the Menin Gate with people...

Our First Poster has been completed by Baradene College students. The design and the translation has been finished.  It is now ready for printing.

This posters theme is ALCOOL ET DÉSERTION à MESSINES EN 1917. It is about how there were discipline problems because some New Zealand soldiers went absent without leave (AWOL) because they became drunk. many New Zealand soldiers enjoyed drinking alcohol a lot. Harry Watson, who signed up under the name "John Black", and another John Raynor were two...

2014 was a whirlwind of a year for many reasons, but none so significant as being part of the Shared Histories project as a Young Ambassador.  This role took me to many places both literally and metaphorically that I never dreamed I would be able to experience in my last year of high school.  Though the experience of being in France and Belgium is now over, the memories we made and things we learnt will last forever.

I had always considered myself to be relatively knowledgable about WWI and...

Where has the time gone? It’s hard to believe that about this time last year we had only just found out that we were Young Ambassadors, but in this short space of time so much has happened! I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity - I’ve learnt so much and I’ve met so many awesome people along the way. Not only has this experience improved my French and knowledge of WW1, it has definitely made me more eager to see the world and discover more of its history.

Throughout the year I’ve been...

In New Zealand’s National Archives in Wellington, there is a military file about two French soldiers who deserted in New Zealand during the First World War, a soldier named Scottez and another soldier named Valentin Franco.

The first was a soldier called Scottez who escaped from Military Custody on board the ‘S.S. Moana”, a boat transporting him from Tahiti to New Caledonia via Wellington and Sydney, while it was berthed in Wellington on 23 April 1915. He was being transported with four...

In the National Library of New Zealand, called the Alexander Turnbull Library, in the capital city Wellington, there is an exhibition about WWI. It is called “World War One. A Contemporary Conversation” and is worth a visit if you are on holiday in Wellington.

On display are some information relating to our Shared Histories project. There are two display’s that discuss about the conscientious objector Archibald Baxter. He was sent to France in the First World War and was one of the soldiers...

French pupils started to work on our project this week. They had to study the biographies of two soldiers from Nelson and buried in our local cemetery. We have access to their military and medical information thanks to the Archives New Zealand website. Pupils experienced a new kind of exercice. They had to work on primary sources in history, and, since documents were partly legible, the first task was to decipher them. They took it like a game, as if they were investigators of the past. Even if...

Thursday the 4th of December saw me get the opportunity to visit two classes at Saint Mary's College in Wellington. I presented an overview of our trip earlier in the year and explained Shared Histories mission and projects. During the time I got asked many great questions by the year 9 and year 10 classes and saw a real engagement with the topic. 

It was an absolute pleasure getting to talk to them and i hope to be able to talk to other schools if I get the chance. 

photo of me and the...

Waimea College students have begun connecting with their new friends at Val de Seine, via all manner of platforms such as Twitter, Facebook and emails. Family photos and pics of beloved pets are shared, first friendships are formed. It’s wonderful to see them come into school with news of their latest exchanges and how excited both sides are to establish this connection and begin our project.

We are very fortunate to have a wonderful Library and Information Centre at Waimea College and its’...