My father told me about Frank Smith (16/735), he's my father's uncle, he talked about Frank as he got old. Dad always said Frank was with the Maori Battalion but we said there wasn’t one in World War 1. Turns out there was!! And he did serve with the Maoris. Frank was with the 2nd Maori Contingent in 1915, they became the Pioneer Battalion. Frank came from Kiribati, it was the Gilberts then. The family had the fishing rights and they had a store in the Gilberts. All the boys were educated in Fiji but all the girls had to stay home in the Gilberts. Frank’s brother William was living in Levuka, Fiji. Frank came to New Zealand to fight with the Pioneers because Fiji only wanted British soldiers. He left Fiji on the boat and he died in the Somme, 15 September 1916 aged 23.

My Uncle Kenneth Henry Millward is recorded on the Cenotaph database as having flown with the RNAS in Belgium during WW1. He was shot down and died on 7 July 1917. I have recently obtained a copy of his Flight Logbook which details his training and service record. He flew at least 6 different types of aircraft during that time including the Sopwith Triplane in which he died.

Hello. I am researching men from the Poole/ Bournemouth area of Dorset, England who joined the NZ forces. So far I have come across just over 100 men with local connections. I'd love to hear from the descendants of any men from my area. Many thanks. morten_thorson@yahoo.co.uk

Hello i am a high school student at sacred heart college boys school and i am looking for infomation on my uncles Terence Carroll and Terence Eugene Carroll. My school records believe that T.E died in 1918 at sea but that was just Terence and i need proof to make them change their records i think this is a disgrace that they wont change it. if you happen to have any proof or any input or opinions please email me at rorycarrollmaher.spike@gmail.com

I have been very privileged as a Kivell family member to have seen and read the five day by day war time diary's that my great, great uncle Lt Ralph. D. Doughty. M.C. wrote entries in during his military service in World War One. Ralph served both here in N.Z. and in Australia where he enlisted with the A.I.F. as an artilleryman. One can only gain the utmost respect for every serviceman and servicewoman who is prepared to put themselves in harms way so that others may live without fear or tyranny, as Ralph did on many occasions and who then made the ultimate sacrifice for his country, far, far away on the field of battle at Passchendaele. Ralph served in Egypt, Gallipoli, France (Western Front) and on to Belgium (Passchendaele). He was wounded in battle on the 23rd July 1917 and died two days latter, being laid to rest at Coxyde Military Cemetery (Plot I, Row F, Grave No 20), Belgium. His Duty Done. R.I.P.
Ralph's diaries have been transcribed and can be read from the address below: http://www.thekivellfamily.co.nz/family_pages/ralphs_diaries/Ralph_Doughty.html