Cenotaph Stories

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Achille Carlier, Mayor of Le Quesnoy during the First World War
Dr Nathalie Philippe, Senior Lecturer University of Waikato, French
When New Zealanders troops liberated the fortified town of Le Quesnoy on 4 November 1918, the elected mayor of Le Quesnoy was nowhere to be seen. The inhabitants of Le Quesnoy would have to wait for the Armistice to be able to see their mayor once again. So what had happened to Achille Carlier during the war?
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Ayun Kara: a battle and its legacy
Gail Romano, Associate Curator War History
Every year after the end of the First World War until at least 1930, a version of this Christmas message from Richon LeZion in what was then Palestine was sent to selected New Zealand newspapers to be published in honour of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles. The simple but powerful message specifically recognised the battle of Ayun Kara which took place on 14 November 1917.
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Tongan Defence Force
Nelson Bennett
Collection Technician - Research Support
The Tongan Defence Force was a major part of Tonga's response to the Second World War, a conflict that would result in massive change in the Kingdom. The Tongans generously opened their lands to the Allies, and the Tongan Defence Force played an important role both overseas and at home.
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Sharing your stories
May-September 2022
Nelson Bennett, Collection Technician Research Support
This article is part of an ongoing series in which we highlight the amazing contributions we receive at Online Cenotaph. The variety and quality of material that is contributed to records is astonishing and this is our opportunity to highlight just a few examples from May to September of 2022.
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A Poem for Passchendaele
Gail Romano
Associate Curator, History
To mark this year's anniversary of Passchendaele, Gail Romano writes about acts of remembrance of New Zealand's darkest day. Through poetry, featuring New Zealand poet and writer Kevin Ireland's A Fine Morning at Passchendaele and the temporary memorial Coming World Remember Me, an installation to commemorate the 100th centenary of the First World War.
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Passchendaele
Kristen MacFarlane
Find out why this major World War One battle took place and how it led to two of New Zealand's greatest tragedies amid dreadful conditions.
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Serious business: Women in the Army
Gail Romano
Associate Curator, War History
July 2022 marked the 80th Anniversary of the formation of the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps. Formed in July 1942, it was the last of the three women's services to be established. In this article, Gail Romano (Associate Curator) discusses the history of the Women's Auxiliary Army Corps from its inception.
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Ngāti Raukawa Sacrifice and Suffering in 20th Century Wars
Te Kenehi Teira and Heeni Collins
Ngāti Raukawa
Despite large loss of land and disregard from the Crown in the 19th century, 50 years later Ngāti Raukawa men were enlisting in large numbers to fight in World War One, and later World War Two. This article outlines the research conducted by Te Kenehi Teira and Heeni Collins as part of a report commissioned by Crown Forestry Rental Trust, Wellington (Wai 2200 Porirua ki Manawatu Inquiry).
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Lieutenant Commander (Ret) Ralph John McNabb
Victoria Passau, Online Cenotaph & Enquiry Service Manager
Lieutenant Commander (Ret) Ralph John McNabb served in the Royal New Zealand Navy for 46 years between 1973 and 2021. His impressive institutional knowledge is a true asset to New Zealand Naval research.
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25 years of Online Cenotaph
December 2021 marked 25 years of Online Cenotaph. It is amazing to think that we have been telling the stories of Aotearoa New Zealand’s military veterans and their comrades for a quarter century. We are so excited to recognise this significant milestone in digital commemoration.
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