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To the Memory
A highly readable and fascinating account of the stories behind New Zealand's many war memorials.
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May 16, 2016
This is a beautifully illustrated large format reference book. It is well written and researched to provide a fascinating insight into the history of New Zealand war memorials. It is a must for anyone interested in the wars of the last century and how we respond to them.
It is more than just a history of the memorials that we have put up, as the book delves deeply into the debates and often disagreements about how we should acknowledge our dead and our heroes. Most memorials honour the dead, while some mention all those who served in the World Wars. Some are simple plaques, crosses or obelisks, but then there are bridges, gates and halls and museums. We start with the New Zealand Wars, through the South African Wars and then into the World Wars of the twentieth century along with all the smaller conflicts that followed, right up to present day Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a long, and at times uneasy history. Cost played a big part in the depression years after WWI and at times there was a lack of local artistic patronage. Even so we have a landscape peppered with memorials of all time.
I was particularly interested into the Government directed move after WWII away from statues and cenotaphs to Memorial Halls, somewhere for public meetings, dances and indoor sports.
The book is a great read and the illustrations are superb. It makes you want to go out and take some photos of the many hundreds of memorials that could not be included.
It is more than just a history of the memorials that we have put up, as the book delves deeply into the debates and often disagreements about how we should acknowledge our dead and our heroes. Most memorials honour the dead, while some mention all those who served in the World Wars. Some are simple plaques, crosses or obelisks, but then there are bridges, gates and halls and museums. We start with the New Zealand Wars, through the South African Wars and then into the World Wars of the twentieth century along with all the smaller conflicts that followed, right up to present day Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a long, and at times uneasy history. Cost played a big part in the depression years after WWI and at times there was a lack of local artistic patronage. Even so we have a landscape peppered with memorials of all time.
I was particularly interested into the Government directed move after WWII away from statues and cenotaphs to Memorial Halls, somewhere for public meetings, dances and indoor sports.
The book is a great read and the illustrations are superb. It makes you want to go out and take some photos of the many hundreds of memorials that could not be included.
Displaying 1 of 1 review