Unsung heroes

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Hon. Craig Foss says that many acts of battlefield bravery by New Zealanders were not officially recognised during the First World War.

“The First World War centenary provides the opportunity to acknowledge extraordinary achievements by New Zealanders thrust into the unimaginable horror of war on a global scale.

“I hope that students who read these articles will think about how they would react when faced with the terrible choices that front-line soldiers have to deal with on a daily basis in war,” Mr Foss says.

The articles will feature individuals and military units of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces(external link) from across New Zealand and will be released in stages on the WW100 website until December 2015.

The article includes an explanation of how the military honours system worked during the First World War, the team that worked alongside Corporal Cyril Bassett in providing communication lines in the lead-up and during the Battle for Chunuk Bair, Māori Contingent Machine Gun Team, Major James Elmslie, Chaplain James McMenamin, Lieutenant Colonel William Malone, and Private Colin Warden.

To explore Gallipoli from a New Zealand perspective, visit the Ngā Tapuwae New Zealand First World War Trails website(external link)

WW1 curriculum resources

To help students explore how the events and experiences of the First World War are relevant to today and the future the Ministry of Education has developed curriculum resources in English and Māori(external link), Years 1-13.