More Info →Māori Battalion Parade

This image was taken by Keith Collinson, of the family who owned the Collinson & Cunninghame's department store. He was a Sergeant based in the Records Department at the Palmerston North Showgrounds. The Māori Battalion trained at the Showgrounds from January to May of 1940. On the back of the photograph Keith wrote, “Māori Battalion Parade at the Palmerston North Showgrounds. Tall building at right, lost in Ordnance Fire, midnight New Year’s Eve.” The fire was in 1945.

Images contributed by Keith's great-nephew, Palmerston North city councillor, Mark Arnott.