CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT

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THE GREAT WAR EXHIBITIONPRESS

Issue 2. SPRING 2015

You’re invited – 1 December 2015

The Great War Exhibition, created by Sir Peter Jackson, is a testament to, and commemoration of the New Zealanders who fought and died on foreign fields during the Great War. We are tasked with presenting their stories and giving an account of the enduring impact of conflict on our society and on our international relations.

There has been fantastic public interest in the Exhibition since it opened in April. There is the possibility that the Exhibition may become a permanent feature if sufficient interest and funds can be generated.

We appreciate that organisations get many calls on their philanthropic dollar and rather than just seeking straight donations or patronage on this occasion, we have decided to host a golf day with the very strong support of the Royal Wellington Golf Club. The timing will give sponsors something a little different for their client activities as we head into the festive season.

With grateful thanks to our sponsor, The Golf Warehouse, we are able to combine a great day with a door prize of $5,000 and prize table items of up to $10,000 in value. This is a once in a 100 year event!

If you would like to support us via the Golf Day, please contact Diane at CharityEvents@GreatWarExhibition.nz. ▪

Welcome to the second issue of the Great War Exhibition Press.

Since opening in April 2015 we have welcomed over 100,000 people through the doors of the Old Dominion Museum Building at Mount Cook in Wellington and are looking forward to seeing many more over the coming months. Our visitors have included war veterans and soldiers as well as school children and families and it is clear that this is a display that appeals to everyone, regardless of age.

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history

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no repeats other than hours

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THE SPRING EDITION

Designed by Sir Peter Jackson, the Exhibition includes many First World War artefacts from Sir Peter’s own private collection. The Exhibition is continually being developed and improved and will be here for four years over the duration of the centenary period. We will have exciting news about various additions over the coming months so do keep an eye on our website!

We hope that you enjoy reading this newsletter and keeping up to date with events at the Exhibition. We thank you sincerely for your continued support while we commemorate this pivotal period in New Zealand’s history.

Jeanette Richardson ONZMDirector ▪

THE GREAT WAR EXHIBITION PRESS

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BATTLEFIELDS HAVE ARRIVED

Our new and very poignant “under-glass” displays are in place. Soil from some of the most important and symbolic battlefields where New Zealanders fought in the First World War has been received along with various items of (one hundred year old) war detritus from each of the battlefields. Both the French and Belgian governments and their museum/archaeology specialists assisted the Great War Exhibition in getting the soil and artefacts ready for their journey to New Zealand and Air New Zealand assisted with carriage services.

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After rebuilding its strength following Gallipoli, the soldiers of the New Zealand Division experience their first combat battle in France on 15 September 1916. At 6.20am, 6000 New Zealanders leave their trenches in Delville Wood and High Wood and by nightfall they have successfully captured the village of Flers. However, 600 New Zealanders in the attack including 52 members of the Maori Pioneer Battalion who were trying to establish vital communication trenches under heavy artillery fire. The soil displayed in the Longueval case was taken from the Somme field where the New Zealanders first experienced the horrors of the Western Front along with original battlefield debris.

Soil/Artefacts from LONGUEVAL THE SOMME BATTLEFIELD

FEATUREDITEM

TURKISH PONTOONIn the early hours of 7 June 1917 New Zealand soldiers of the 2nd and 3rd Rifle Brigades attacked the German occupied town of Messines on the Ypres Salient in Belgium. Over the next few hours New Zealanders fought their way up the heavily fortified Messines Ridge, destroying German pillboxes and successfully recapturing the town of Messines. The soil in the Messines case was dug from the field where New Zealanders saw their fiercest fighting on 7 June along with samples of the “iron harvest” that continues to emerge from the ground one hundred years after the conflict.

12 October 1917 - Our Blackest DayThe soil in this case comes from the field that stood witness to the most tragic day in New Zealand’s history –the failed attempt to capture Bellevue Spur on 12 October 1917. A preliminary artillery barrage was supposed to destroy German barbed wire but, following an advance bogged down in mud, horrified New Zealand infantrymen discovered that the wire was still intact. Trapped in the open and stuck inmud, they were cut down by withering German machine gun and artillery fire. 845 New Zealanders died and 2900 were wounded on 12 October 1917-the greatest number of lives lost in a single day in our country’s history.

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THE SPRING EDITION

GWE thanks Steven Reynaert, Freddy Declerck, Martin O’Connor and Alain Jaques of France and Belgium for assistance as well as Air New Zealand in getting the soil and artefacts to New Zealand.

Soil/Artefacts from MESSINES BATTLEFIELD

Soil from BELLEVUE SPUR, PASSCHENDAELE

Soil/Artefacts from LONGUEVAL THE SOMME BATTLEFIELD

The Great War Exhibition has an authentic pontoon that was taken at the Suez Canal. In early 1915, 20,000 men from the Ottoman 4th Army crossed the Sinai Peninsula with the intention of invading

Egypt. The main Ottoman attack was delivered on the night of 2-3 February 1915 with a large force of Ottoman soldiers attempting

to cross the Suez Canal in pontoon boats and rafts while under rifle and shell fire from New Zealand, British and Indian forces.

The Ottoman attack failed and their abandoned pontoons- which had been dragged across approximately 440 kilometres of desert

from the nearest Ottoman railhead- were taken as war trophies for display in Cairo. A number were subsequently brought back to New

Zealand as mementoes of New Zealand’s first engagement in the First World War.

The pontoon at the Great War Exhibition is from the collection of the Auckland War Memorial Museum Tanaki Paenga Hira.

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THE SPRING EDITION

rothers Norman and George Berry were North Otago shepherds who volunteered for the Otago Regiment at the Oamaru Army Drill Hall on 19th October 1916. They were allocated sequential service numbers 39148 and 39149.

Transported to England in February 1917 on the troop ship Aparima, the brothers saw their final training at the New Zealand military base of Sling Camp. Sent to Belgium, Norman and George saw fighting at Passchendale, and were lucky to survive in a battle that claimed the lives of many hundred New Zealanders. Both were hospitalised – Norman for shell shock and George with a bullet wound to the arm.

Declared unfit for further service, they were transported home together, arriving in New Zealand on 16th March 1918. Both served again in World War Two, Norman as a captain in the Otago Mounted Rifles and George in the Home Guard. They were buried side by side in the Oamaru soldiers’ cemetery, which was in accordance of their wishes.

Today the Berry family are fourth generation North Otago farmers. Norman’s son Bob Berry founded the Whitestone Cheese Co. in 1987 and Bob’s son Simon is now Chief Executive Officer of the business.▪

Whitestone Cheese is a proud supporter of The Great War Exhibition and has created a limited edition Livingstone Gold Brothers in Arms, which is available for purchase on site.

BROTHERS IN ARMS

THEQUARTER MASTER’S

STORE The wartime story of the Berry brothers and how Whitestone Cheese came to be.

BA small specialty ‘pop-up’ store is operating in the lobby of the Great War Exhibition. It especially features products that have been made for us as part of our fund-raising drive. Iconic New Zealand companies have developed relevant items and a portion of all sales in various New Zealand outlets comes to the Great War Exhibition to help fund our many operations and developments.

You might want to try:• 1915 L’Affare coffee and chocolate coffee beans• Whitestone’s Brothers in Arms cheese• Wellington Chocolate Factory’s Great War Bar• A range of products from the Seriously Good Chocolate Company including bars and boxes of chocolate as well as drinking chocolate• Old Bill’s Chocolate Rum Sauce• Blueberry and Green Tea• Jars of Marmite

We can also advise- hot off the press- that Wild Country will be adding some chutneys, sauces and jams to the overall mix.

COUNTRY BY COUNTRY 100 YEARS AGO…

SEPTEMBER 16TH

SEPTEMBER 25TH

SEPTEMBER 28TH

SEPTEMBER 9TH

Battle of Loos begins… This was the battle in which Britain used gas for the first time, as heavy artillery was in short supply. Because of wind conditions however, in an unpleasant initial turn of events, the gas was blown back into British trenches. Little ground was gained even though British losses numbered about 60,000 and the German line remained unbroken.

Great Britain

GREAT BRITAINSEPTEMBER

SEPTEMBER 1915 OCTOBER 1915 NOVEMBER 1915 DECEMBER 1915

Germany France Austria-Hungary

The Little Willie Prototype tank was tested for the first time. Little Willie never saw actual combat and was the forerunner to the British Mark I, the first tank to be used in combat. The Mark I’s rhomboidal shape allowed it to cross the trenches and attack from above. Today you can see Little Willie at the Tank Museum in Bovington, Dorset, England, as well as the only surviving male Mark I Tank.

WE TAKE A LOOK INTO THE SOCIAL CHANGES, TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES AND START AND STOPS OF BATTLES DURING SPRING 1915 IN THE GREAT WAR.

Despite Britain’s resounding 1915 victory at Kut-Al-Amara, this success in Mesopotamia was not to last for long. In 1916 Britain suffered a major defeat, weakening its influence in the Middle East. News of the failures of the Gallipoli and Mesopotamia campaigns was received with stunned disbelief in Britain.

THE GREAT WAR EXHIBITION PRESS

When visiting the Great War Exhibition and you can see our life-size Mark 1

replica tank. Check out our smells too – 3 kinds of (very mild) gas for you to try!

The Queen Mother was a member of the Women’s

Institute.

DIDYOU

KNOW?Back at home… The first meeting of the Women’s Institute in Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Wales was held. The Institute included members who had been part of the Suffragette movement and through this organisation they continued to lobby for women’s rights. As one of the Institute’s activities they aided the war effort by growing and preserving food.

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I shan’t give this up again, I swear to you.

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OCTOBER 3RD

OCTOBER 5TH

THE BRITISH MAY RULE THE WAVES, HOWEVER…

Although the German merchant ship S.S Livonia, was sunk in this month, it is the sinking of the British Merchant Navy vessel RMS Lusitania which is remembered today. Mostly non-military shipping was targeted by both sides in the Great War.

Germany gains an ally…The Czar of Bulgaria, still resentful after his country’s defeat in the 1913 Balkan War, joined the Central Powers in attacking Serbia, assisted by German and Austro-Hungarian troops.

THE SPRING EDITION

Germany became very adept in the air around the Western Front from 1915, largely due to their Fokker aircraft. The Fokker’s propeller and speed determined its machine gun fire rate. This synchronization ensured the propellers were not damaged.

Rounding up October for the Germans, a word from the Kaiser…

— Kaiser Wilhelm II referring to Belgium while Germany was in occupation there.

“Kaiser” is the German equivalent of Caesar.

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GERMANYOCTOBER

At the beginning of the war the elderly Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austro-Hungary did not play an active role in the conflict. He was succeeded by his nephew Charles I in 1916, who was actively involved in the leadership of his troops. He became Supreme Commander of the Austro-Hungarian forces December 1916. At the end of the war he issued a proclamation giving up an active role in the administration of his dissolving Empire. Charles attempted to regain the throne of Hungary, but died in 1922 as the last in a long line of Habsburg rulers in Europe. pag e

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OCCUPIED FRANCE

DECEMBER 2ND

DECEMBER 25TH

DECEMBER 28TH

NOVEMBER 17TH

NOVEMBER 6TH

Twelve battles were fought along the Isonzo River between Italy and the Austro-Hungarian Empire with successful results. With remote and mountainous borders separating the two armies, the region around the Isonzo River (modern-day Slovenia) was one of the few areas where the Italian forces felt they could gain territory from the Austro-Hungarians.

Isolated groups of German and British soldiers participated in the Christmas truce of 1914 but it was short-lived. Fighting became bitter as the war dragged on, with little desire among troops of either side to fraternise during the Christmas periodin later years.

The Austro-Hungarian Navy attacked the Albanian town of Duzzaro. British, Italian, French ships were deployed in response to the attack. Austria-Hungary lost four vessels in the fight, while the Allied ships only lost one, making it a decisive naval victory for them.

FRANCE

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

The Second Battle of Champagne ends. This was a French offensive against the Germans. There were enormous losses on the French side and the remaining French soldiers never reached the Germans’ second line of defence.

In better times it only took two days for a letter to be delivered from Britain to the Western Front.

The French Army’s M15 Adrian, was introduced in 1915 as the first combat helmet to appear on the

Western Front. Weighing approximately 0.5kg, it was made of mild steel 0.7mm thick and led the

way for The Brodie, “a masterpiece of simple design” for the British Expeditionary Force.

UPDATEDNEWS

Happenings with the Habsburgs…

The British and the French discuss aiding Serbia now that Bulgaria has entered the fray. They tentatively agree on forming a Supreme War Council to help co-ordinate and stream line Allied attacks and develop diplomatic policies.

Large parts of France were occupied throughout the Great War. Civilians along the Western front had to contend with German occupation, Allied armies, scarcity of food and supplies as well as the destruction of their villages and homes.

THE GREAT WAR EXHIBITION PRESS

Image: Soldier from the Canterbury Regiment digs deep to buy cakes from a local woman. France, 1917. Photograph by Henry Armytage Sanders. Courtesy of Alexander Turnbull Library. Colourisation 2015.

Good Afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen. We are delighted to invite you to High Tea. We have taken the liberty of committing a few thoughts to paper to ensure that you enjoy using a little

etiquette around this grand tradition.

FIRST, LET US BE CLEAR. ONE DOES NOT DIP BISCUITS’, IT IS TERRIBLY BAD FORM.

1. Always introduce yourself to unknown guests attending the Afternoon Tea party.

2. When seated, place your napkin on your lap. When excusing yourself from the table, place the napkin on the side of you place setting; the napkin does not need to be refolded.

3. Milk will be poured into the cup first as this represents good manners as well as protecting the fine bone china from the heat of the tea.

4. Tea should be served by the host/hostess. Guests should take their cup directly from the server’s left hand.

5. Tea is received and held with the index finger through the handle, the thumb just above it to support the grip, and the second finger below the handle for added security. Cradling the cup in one’s fingers when it has a handle is a large faux pas.

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6. Do not swirl your teapot continuously, it is not a washing machine! Rather, gently turn the teapot towards the 12 o’clock point.

7. Avoid clinking the lip of the cup while “folding” the tea bag and do not tap it on the rim when finished.

8. Never gesture with your tea cup or hold your tea cup mid-air. When not drinking, place the teacup on the saucer. The saucer should remain on the table or held suitably in your lap if you are in a lounge setting.

9. To pinkie or not to pinkie? It is considered improper to extend your little finger in many social settings.

10. Do not place your teaspoon in the cup and leave it there whilst trying to drink from the cup; once it is no longer required place it on the right hand side of the saucer.

Ta b l e Fo r m a l i T i e s

GOOD AFTERNOONSHOME SHORES PRESENTS

THE GREAT WAR EXHIBITION PRESS

Finger SandwichesCorned Beef and Pickle

Egg and CressCucumber and Smoked salmon

SconesButter, preserves and cream

A freshly baked Savoury Item

The day’s Sweet Treats

Accompanied by a selection of fine Ceylon Tea from the Dilmah Range or

a champagne cocktail.

Work your way through the cake stand.

1. Start with the sandwiches or at the top of the tier with the scones.

2. Once you start a tier it is best to finish it, to keep your taste buds clear. Then move to the next display of cakes etc.

3. Take only what you require to your plate, remember “waste not want not”.

4. Do not spread your jam and cream directly onto the scone. Rather place your helping on to the side of the plate and then spread it onto the scone.

5. It is desirable to finish the Afternoon Tea on a sweet note, so do try and leave the pastry items to last.

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HIGH TEA

TO ENQUIRE FURTHER ABOUT HIGH TEA PLEASE TELEPHONE 04 978 2626

OR VISIT US AT THE GREAT WAR EXHIBITION ON THE 2ND FLOOR OF THE DOMINION

MUSEUM BUILDING

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THE SPRING EDITION

Fo o d Fo r m a l i T i e s

STOMACHTHIS

Two biscuits which amazingly survived some of the bloodiest battles of the

First World War were auctioned last year at Lockdales, specialist auctioneers in

Martlesham, near Ipswich, Suffolk. Huge worldwide interest sparked by the

100th anniversary of the beginning of the Great War left the 60 starting price

a low wager.

L. B. Charles, who fought in the bloody battles of Gallipoli and the Dardanelles in Turkey, these biscuits were sold at 260 – not bad for 100 year-old food made of just

three ingredients: flour, salt and water.

HOM E SHOR EScafé

est. 1918

Make the time to walk through this peek back into days gone by... We were in awe of the likeness of the smells and the feel the set gave you as you wandered along.

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364 days a year

9am – 6pm9am – 6pm9am – 10pm9am – 6pm9am – 6pm9am – 6pm9am – 6pmClosed

MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursday FridaySaturdaySundayChristmas Day

All bookings can be arranged by emailing the Exhibition team on Info@GreatWarExhibition.nz or by calling 04 978 2500. For more information about the Exhibition see www.GreatWarExhibition.nz

For all events and functions enquiries please do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing the Exhibition Events team on Events@GreatWarExhibition.nz or by calling 04 978 2504.

THE SPRING EDITION

MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES

THE GREAT WAREXHIBITION IS OPEN

A N E V E N I N G E X P E R I E N C E

H AV E Y O U R NEXT EVENTF U N C T I O N W I T H U S

You won’t regret it.

— Anne Kemp Los Angeles, CA

SURGEONS TAKEA BITE OUT OF HISTORY AT GWE

The Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (NZ division) held their annual dinner at the Great War Exhibition this year.

Our whole experience from initial contact with the management all the way through to dessert was truly exceptional! When we arrived we were received at reception by the Management Team and we were escorted to the Café upstairs. Drinks and canapes were available and in small groups of 7 people we were given a personal tour through the Exhibition.

Our enthusiastic tour guide, Finn, shared a great deal of knowledge about the war. He projected himself very well and gave us a very interesting history and run down of all the events as we toured through. Of course for us the highlight being the displays on maxillofacial injuries! All the displays were professionally done with such attention to detail. Really worth a look for many reasons. It portrays the impact of war on our society in its historical context and its enduring impact on us.

After the tour we were seated for our meal. The floor manager Barry came and introduced himself to each table. Drinks, starters, mains, desserts, dessert wines were all part of our package and were second to none!

To top it all off, upon leaving (fairly late) the Management stayed until the very end especially to farewell us from reception and all guests were given a small museum memento gift.

This really is hospitality at its best.

Manish PatelOral and Maxilliofacial surgeon ANZAOMSThe Australian and New Zealand Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (ANZAOMS) ▪