New Zealand's Great War: New Zealand, the Allies and the First World War

by John Crawford (Editor), Ian McGibbon (Editor)

This book is a collection of essays arising out of the 'Zealandia's Great War' conference organised by the New Zealand Military History Committee in November 2003. In 32 essays by distinguished military historians from New Zealand and around the world, various aspects of New Zealand's involvement in World War One are discussed. Subjects include the Pioneer Maori Battalion, women who opposed the war, the early years of the RSA, Gallipoli, the infantry on the Somme, New Zealand's involvement in the naval war, prostitution and the New Zealand soldier, the Home Defence, religion in the First World War, and the Armistice. New Zealand's Great War is a fascinating miscellany of informed comment on and insight into the event that did most to shape New Zealand as a nation. Contributors include New Zealand's own Chris Pugsley, Glyn Harper, Terry Kinloch, Monty Soutar, Megan Hutching, Vincent Orange and Bronwyn Dalley, as well as Peter Dennis, Jeffrey Grey, Jennifer Keene, Jenny McLeod, Pierre Purseigle, Peter Stanley and Gary Sheffield from overseas. "An important and illuminating book." - Taranaki Daily News

Genres: Nonfiction

704 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 2007

About the author

SPC John Crawford is an American Iraq War veteran and writer originally from Palatka, Florida known for his bestselling memoir The Last True Story I'll Ever Tell, about his tour in Iraq.

Reviews

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The young colony of New Zealand's first real appearance on the world stage was her contribution to the allied cause in WWI. Proportionally, New Zealand's uniformed manpower contribution was the highest of any combatant nation, and New Zealand troops established a reputation for steadiness and dash on the battlefields of Gallipoli, the Western Front and the Middle East. This fine collection of academic articles examines New Zealand's war abroad and at home, how she coped with a difficult manpower situation, how she built an army and how her other efforts affected NZ society, both during and after the war. There are the usual dreary PC works about gender issues and such, but most of the articles are first-rate and worth reading. A much-needed work to bring the Kiwi's role in the Great War up to date.