Displaying items by tag: soldiers

It has only been over a month since we returned from our trip to France and it feels like a dream far in the past. I still find myself thinking about it and reminiscing on our experiences everyday. The past 10 months preparing for this unbelievable experience have been life-changing. I have formed lifelong friendships, and had countless once in a lifetime experiences.

Before I applied for this trip I wasn’t even aware that I had ancestors who fought in WW1. At that time I wouldn’t have...

Man, what an adventure! Having returned from our trip to France I feel accomplished, for having carried out my project; amazed, at all the things I’ve seen and the experiences we all shared together and lastly, proud to say I did my duty as a Young Ambassador.

Seeing the places I researched was unforgettable. The scale of The Great War was always visible, through the landscape and the ever-present cemeteries scattered around the countryside of North Eastern France. Each one commemorated men...

Kia ora koutou, bonjour à tous, hello everyone.

The trip to Wellington and the week spent with our French counterparts was incredible and something that will stick with me for years to come. The whole experience was filled with a plethora of moments that moved me deeply and others that filled me with happiness. It was an honour to take part in it.

I was excited and nervous headed up to Wellington on the plane as I was getting my head around the week’s proceedings. Everything fell into place...

Bonjour à tous encore. On the 17th of April, in Wellington, I met the rest of the Young Ambassadors, the organisers of our trip and the task in front of us; to be able to tell the story of those who came before during the Great War. It was a great start and despite being the only male on the trip, I felt welcome by all. Being in the company of all the team has made me very excited to commence this journey.

Upon arriving in Wellington, we were given a lot of information that answered many...

First steps of discovery of our students' personal relation to the Great War.

While uncovering the story of my great grandfather, I became fascinated with the detail of the various war records - whether they be the enlistment forms or the day-to-day journals written from the field. Here are some interesting bits and pieces I came across on my travels...

The cover photo shows my great grandfather's original attestation for general service when he would have signed up to go over to Samoa within the first few days of war breaking out. This is the second form he would have...

I’ve known bits and pieces of my great grandfather’s story but yesterday I had the opportunity to sit down with my grandmother and her brother to uncover the full truth. My great-uncle undertook his own research in France a few years ago, following in the footsteps of his father, including the exact spot where he was wounded, according to field reports. He travelled to many of the places which I too will visit in fewer than two weeks’ time! Here is the story of my great-grandfather which I have...

The 7th Reinforcements leave Wellington for Suez on 9th October 1915.

(Image retrieved from http://www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph/record/C42912)

An overview of our project that hangs at the exhibition in the Queen Elizabeth II Pukeahu Education Centre at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington.