A very big crowd of people attended the opening of our exhibition at the Remuera Library in Auckland. It was fantastic to see so many people at the event.
Remuera Library Exhibition - from June 17 2015 - Auckland, NZ
"The Battle of Conscience" - La Bataille de la Conscience
Students from Baradene College of the Sacred Heart in Auckland, NZ and Lycée Professionnel Jean Macé, Chauny, France have worked together on a joint ambitious project to mark the anniversary of the First World War within the Shared Histories framework. The students researched the pacifist objection to war and those New Zealanders and French soldiers who deserted or...
We attended a concert of French music today. The music was of French songs from the First World War and French poems from the First World War that had been set to music. The musicians played a contemporary musical version of these. It was a great concert to attend as it gave us a unique chance to hear this French music.
Another preview of our book. This time the pages show photos of Archibald Baxter and Mark Briggs (two conscientious objectors sent to the Western Front) and a great photo we sourced from Puke Ariki Museum of a NZ soldier on the duckboard at the front line. Briggs was dragged over this, the nails on it digging into his flesh and creating huge wounds. Baxter was marched to the front line in order to try to "break his will" to resist military service. In the end he got left there, and wandered...
Ces exécution s’inscrivent dans un contexte très particulier, celui des lendemains de la bataille des frontières (10-24 août 1914) où les troupes françaises sont mises en déroute et doivent retraiter dans des conditions particulièrement éprouvantes. Soldats ayant perdu contact avec leurs unités ou contestant les conditions d’engagement des troupes françaises, civils incapables de justifier leur présence : on sait encore aujourd’hui très peu de chose sur ces hommes, l’historiographie ayant...
We have been looking at the execution of New Zealand soldiers on the Western Front during the First World War. We have looked at primary documents relating to this. In particular we looked at documents held at the National Archives in Wellington. [Archive File: AD1 767 22.30.74 'Courts martial of Pvt Victor Manson Spencer'.] The photos above show his final plea, his death sentence and the coded telegram back to New Zealand announcing his death.
Victor Manson Spencer was from Otahuhu in...
Looking back at 2014, all I can think about is how lucky I have been. I feel so inspired by the generosity that was shown to me by so many amazing people and that took me on the journey of a lifetime. I have developed a great love for remembrance and history and have thoroughly enjoyed participating in French culture, language, and history. The Young Ambassadors tour really made me connect authentically with the spirit of those who served a century ago. Being there, where they were. Where they...
The photo is from the National Archives in Wellington. [ AD1 10/407/3] It shows conscientious objectors on the Waitemata troop ship being forcibly dressed in military uniforms.
Fourteen New Zealand Conscientious Objectors were secretly forced onto a ship and sent to France during the First World War. They were treated very harshly as the military authorities made efforts to intimidate the men, wear them down and break their spirit. They continued to resist, even though this made conditions...
In the National Library of New Zealand, called the Alexander Turnbull Library, in the capital city Wellington, there is an exhibition about WWI. It is called “World War One. A Contemporary Conversation” and is worth a visit if you are on holiday in Wellington.
On display are some information relating to our Shared Histories project. There are two display’s that discuss about the conscientious objector Archibald Baxter. He was sent to France in the First World War and was one of the soldiers...
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