WWI

Letter from Trentham during WW1

Pat Argyle (189o-1915) was one of the sons of Henry and Alice Argyle of Bunnythorpe. He and his brother Len enlisted in the NZ Expeditionary Forces together and served in World War One. This letter from Pat to his parents is from Trentham Training Camp, prior to embarking for overseas. Len and Pat both died at Chunuk Bair in 1915.

WWI

Discover Manawatū's WW1 history

Embroidered WWI Postcard

This postcard comes from the Mackrell Archive. They came to be in possession of the Mackrell family by way of Huia Mackrell's wife, Doris Cammock (later Mrs Mackrell, of Woodville). They were sent by Doris' brother Frank while he was serving in the European campaign during WW1. He was killed at Passchendaele in 1917. The postcards in this series are all hand-embroidered, some of them have writing on the reverse, while others contain smaller decorated cards in the silk pouch on the front.

Souvenir, Embroidered WWI Postcard

This postcard comes from the Mackrell Archive. They came to be in possession of the Mackrell family by way of Huia Mackrell's wife, Doris Cammock (later Mrs Mackrell, of Woodville). They were sent by Doris' brother Frank while he was serving in the European campaign during WW1. He was killed at Passchendaele in 1917. The postcards in this series are all hand-embroidered, some of them have writing on the reverse, while others contain smaller decorated cards in the silk pouch on the front.

Souvenir from France embroidered WWI postcard

This postcard comes from the Mackrell Archive. They came to be in possession of the Mackrell family by way of Huia Mackrell's wife, Doris Cammock (later Mrs Mackrell, of Woodville). They were sent by Doris' brother Frank while he was serving in the European campaign during WW1. He was killed at Passchendaele in 1917. The postcards in this series are all hand-embroidered, some of them have writing on the reverse, while others contain smaller decorated cards in the silk pouch on the front.

To My Dear Sister, embroidered WWI postcard

This postcard comes from the Mackrell Archive. They came to be in possession of the Mackrell family by way of Huia Mackrell's wife, Doris Cammock (later Mrs Mackrell, of Woodville). They were sent by Doris' brother Frank while he was serving in the European campaign during WW1. He was killed at Passchendaele in 1917. The postcards in this series are all hand-embroidered, some of them have writing on the reverse, while others contain smaller decorated cards in the silk pouch on the front.

Souvenir from France, embroidered WWI postcard

This postcard comes from the Mackrell Archive. They came to be in possession of the Mackrell family by way of Huia Mackrell's wife, Doris Cammock (later Mrs Mackrell, of Woodville). They were sent by Doris' brother Frank while he was serving in the European campaign during WW1. He was killed at Passchendaele in 1917. The postcards in this series are all hand-embroidered, some of them have writing on the reverse, while others contain smaller decorated cards in the silk pouch on the front.

“David the Shepherd Boy”, Opera House

The actors in "David the Shepherd Boy" are seen here in costume raising money for patriotic purposes for WW1. According to Manawatu Times, (5 August 1915, Page 8), the show was "brilliant and successful".

Postcard from a Soldier Stationed at Awapuni Racecourse

Awapuni Racecourse was the site of an army training camp during WW1. The text reads, "Photo taken on some previous occasion before we arrived. The large grandstand with small turret is where we are quartered - the front being covered with tarpaulins. The next building is our Headquarters from which the flag flies - that is where the officers have their quarters - the commandants office and the general office. The next - a smaller grandstand where we often assemble for lectures. The building further on is the caretaker's house. The course is in front of the picture. Jim."

A Souvenir of Peace

This small card was issued by local department store Collinson and Cunninghame to commemorate the patriotic procession in Palmerston North "held on receipt of the glorious news that the capitulation of Germany had followed that of Austria, Turkey and Bulgaria." The Boyce Papers are held in the Ian Matheson City Archives.

Manawatu Final Battle Booklet

This booklet comes the Ian Matheson City Archives Research Files, available for viewing on the 2nd Floor of the Central Library building. This programme lists a number of events, including concerts, raffles and parades - including a parade where young ladies dressed in the garb of Britain's allies, called the "Grand Empire March." The Final Battle Campaign was one of the fundraising efforts made by New Zealanders to raise money for the soldiers wounded during WWI.

Rangiotu Camp, 1915

This photograph was found with other copied prints in the John Cleland Community Archive. The original photographer is unknown - these have been labelled (at a later date by Ian Matheson) Rangiotu Camp, 1915 based on the information found on the photographs. The camp was built to house the men evacuated from Trentham Camp (Wellington) due to unsanitary conditions and disease. Samuel Jickell, Civil Engineer for the Palmerston North Borough Council, used the information from a report on the failings of Trentham's design to ensure similar problems did not arise in Rangiotu. The 1st & 2nd New Zealand Rifle Brigade and the Earl of Liverpool’s Own Regiment were stationed at the camp, which was comprised of over 3000 acres and could accommodate 2,000 men.

Bulford Kiwi - Sling Camp, England

Originally called Sling Plantation due to the nearby forest, this camp was located beside the Bulford on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. New Zealand troops built wooden huts here after the beginning of the First World War. It was occupied by New Zealand forces in 1916, It was officially called the 4th New Zealand Infantry Brigade Reserve Camp, and trained reinforcements and casualties who were regaining fitness. It was also home to some New Zealand conscientious objectors (such as Baxter brothers, Archibald, Alex and John. In 1918, there were 4,300 men at Sling. Soon after the camp suffered large casualties as a result of the Spanish influenza. After the end of the war, there were 4600 New Zealand troops stationed at the camp and the camp became a repatriation centre. There was significant unrest after delays in demobilisation and subsequent attempts to enforce order led to  rioting. After the ringleaders had been arrested and sent home to New Zealand, the rest of the troops were given the task of carving the shape of a large Kiwi in the chalk of the hill that overlooks the camp, known as the Bulford Kiwi, which is still present today. This postcard comes from the Cleland Photograph Collection and is dated 1915 - this date must be erroneous as the Kiwi was not created until 1918.

Rangiotu Camp, 1915

This photograph was found with other copied prints in the John Cleland Community Archive. The original photographer is unknown - these have been labelled (at a later date by Ian Matheson) Rangiotu Camp, 1915 based on the information found on the photographs. The rectangular building in the distance on the right was the HQ of the camp. The farmhouse in front belonged to Manawaroa Te Awe Awe, the man who loaned the use of his paddocks for the camp's creation. The house was later moved closer towards the other houses visible in the distance on the left side of the image. The camp was built to house the men evacuated from Trentham Camp (Wellington) due to unsanitary conditions and disease. Samuel Jickell, Civil Engineer for the Palmerston North Borough Council, used the information from a report on the failings of Trentham's design to ensure similar problems did not arise in Rangiotu. The 1st & 2nd New Zealand Rifle Brigade and the Earl of Liverpool’s Own Regiment were stationed at the camp, which was comprised of over 3000 acres and could accommodate 2,000 men.

Gilbert Edison Rose

Gilbert Edison Rose's parents were early settlers to the Rangiwahia district. Gilbert served with the 27th New Zealand Mounted Rifles during World War One. His military service began on 28 October 1916 and ended 17 June 1919. After training at Featherston Camp, he spent 1917-1918 as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. He caught malaria in 1918 and was hospitalised in Cairo - he was not discharged until January 1919. He died in Feilding in 1945, officially as a result of his earlier malarial infection, and is buried in Rangiwahia cemetery along with his family. These photographs are held with the Rose Papers in the Ian Matheson City Archives.

Last Letter to Will Chapman

  Battered remains of an envelope originally containing John Henry Chapman’s last letter (dated October 1918) to his younger brother Will Chapman, then serving in Northern France. It was returned to sender, arriving just under a year later marked ‘Deceased’. Will died 27th November 1918 in an army hospital in the town of Caudry, northern France, the victim of influenza, and is buried in the military cemetery there.  

Will Chapman in Uniform

  Will Chapman in army kit (centre, nearest camera) during family farewells on the day that he boarded the troopship SS Willochra bound for Suez. From September 1916 onward he served on the Western Front as a Driver in the Divisional Ammunition Column of the 1st Field Artillery, NZFA. Shortly after the Armistice he fell a victim of the influenza epidemic and was hospitalised at Caudry, a small town about 15km east of Cambrai, Northern France. He died on the 27th November 1918 and is buried in the military cemetery just outside Caudry.  

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