Cenotaph Stories

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Hope you ok ma?: The Jayforce letters of James Thomas Griffin
James Thomas Griffin & Victoria Passau, Online Cenotaph & Enquiry Service Manager
James Thomas Griffin's service with Jayforce in Japan (1946-1947) underscores New Zealand's role in demilitarisation and reconstruction post-WWII. Stationed in Yamaguchi, his letters, shared by his daughter Judy Cardno, reveal the impacts on locals and the experiences of New Zealand forces, offering insights into the daily life of the military in Japan.
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The Gilbert and Ellice Islands Contingent
Matthew Nickless
Collection Technician - Research Support
In 1918, twenty five members of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Native Police Force travelled to New Zealand to enlist for war. This is their odyssey.
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A Year in Review: Online Cenotaph 2023
Online Cenotaph, Sophie Elborough and Matthew Nickless
The Auckland War Memorial Museum’s Online Cenotaph team has had another impactful year in 2023, marked by sharing poignant stories, and enhanced community engagement. This review highlights the key achievements and milestones of the year, showcasing our commitment to honouring New Zealand’s military history.
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Ben Peckham: the advocate
Ben Peckham served in the New Zealand Army from 1990 until 1997 including service in Bosnia. In this interview we consider his life before, during and after service. Ben's experience has made him a passionate advocate in the veteran support space. He believes the incredible wrap-around support he received during some of his hardest times should be the default experience for other personnel.
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The Korean War: A Multinational Affair
Colonel (Retired) Richard Hall OBE, MNZM
Pou Maumahara Volunteer
Nobody will ever know what was going through Dennis Fielden’s mind as he trudged up the steep slope to join A Company, 3 Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR) on Hill 504, near Kap’Yong, on the 23rd April 1951. No doubt he would have been mentally and physically tired. The previous 24 hours had been particularly hectic for 16 Field Regiment (Fd Regt)...
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Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park – Officially One of The Few!
Dilip Sarkar (MBE FRHistS)
Historian Dilip Sarkar has spent his career researching the Battle of Britain. In this piece he shares with us the new stories he has uncovered about the service of Auckland’s Air Chief Marshal Sir Keith Park and his involvement in the defence of Britain.
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Stories from Singapore: the RNZAF in World War II
Matthew Nickless
Collection Technician - Research Support
Despite the proximity of Singapore and the Pacific to New Zealand, most New Zealand forces were concentrated in North Africa in 1942. Matthew Nickless looks at two RNZAF servicemen who served close to home, and their experiences during the Fall of Singapore.
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Aghan Brothers
Georgina White
Curator, Cenotaph Galleries
At the outbreak of the First World War, there were approximately 2500 people of Chinese descent living in New Zealand. Nearly 40 Chinese service personnel have been identified, this is the story of the Aghan brothers; Alfred and David who moved from Australia to serve for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.
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25 Years of Online Cenotaph
Victoria Passau
Online Cenotaph and Enquiry Services Manager
Online Cenotaph has been commemorating the experiences of Aotearoa New Zealand’s military service for more than 25 years. Online Cenotaph is a collection of data relating to Aotearoa New Zealand’s operational military service including personal, biographical, demographic, social and military information. But it is much more than a collection of datapoints.
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'ATA-Girls': The Fab Five of New Zealand Aviation
Dr Gabrielle Fortune
Historian
They were called 'ATA-girls' (attagirls) female pilots who served with the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA) during the Second World War. During the war 168 women served with the ATA, including five New Zealand Women who paid their own way to England for a chance to fly.
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