Anzac Day is just a week away and this year's Anzac Day is the centenary anniversary of when it was first observed in New Zealand.

The deadline for this blog challenge is Monday, 2 May; and we ask you to write about a person or a family that you have researched that were involved in war.

When you have published your blog, please include the name(s) and link in our comments section at the bottom of this post by Monday, May 2, and your entry will be collated with all the others and posted on a follow-up Kintalk blog on Monday, May 9.  If you don't have a blog, perhaps you could email it to kintalk@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz instead, and I will post it on the Kintalk blog for you.

Reviews and blog honour roll of previous blog challenges can be seen here:

2011 Trans-Tasman Anzac Day Blog Challenge
2012 Trans-Tasman Anzac Day Blog Challenge
2013 Trans-Tasman Anzac Day Blog Challenge
2014 Trans-Tasman Anzac Day Blog Challenge
2015 Trans-Tasman Anzac Day Blog Challenge - unfortunately the review for this year appears to be missing, but you can check out the links that other bloggers left in the comments of the original challenge blog and also here.

 To help you get started on some research:

• the Auckland War Memorial Museum;
• the Australian War Memorial site
• Archives New Zealand Archway - Discover World War One
• Discovering Anzacs - the joint initiative between the National Archives of Australia and Archives New Zealand
• the National Archives of Australia or look further by 
• using the resources listed on Cora Num’s website.
• National Archives of Australia Facebook page about their Shellshocked Exhibition and some of the personal stories that they have collected might also be of interest.

Helen Vail's blog 100 NZ WW1 Memorials 1914-2014 is a mine of information about WW1 memorials, and individuals that she has researched. Helen's goal is to personally visit and collate information from 100 New Zealand World War One Memorials throughout New Zealand by August 2014 to commemorate the 100 year Anniversary of the start of World War One and to honour those who paid the ultimate price.


Remember Ancestry, Findmypast and the Genealogist are all free to use with any of the 55 Auckland Libraries sites.

Happy blogging

Seonaid

The wonderful people from the Auckland War Memorial Museum delivered an Artefact Digitisation Unit (ADU) to the Central Auckland Research Centre.

A what? I hear you say . . . .

Artefact Digitisation Unit (ADU) from Auckland War Memorial Museum

It is an awesome piece of technology that looks kind of like an ATM machine - a kiosk with a computer, touchscreen monitor and a camera.

With its connectivity to the internet, it has direct access to the new Online Cenotaph. 

People can use the ADU to search the Online Cenotaph direct from the Research Centre, and contribute information about the person they are researching - this includes the ability to photograph documents and objects to upload to a subjects record.

The Online Cenotaph itself has been completed re-designed and had been re-launched in January.

There are more than 140,000 service personnel listed, and alots of new content has been added:

• approximately 2,000 new images from Auckland Libraries’ Schmidt Collection of portraits
• direct links with servicemen’s sketches, poems and writing held in the Troopship magazines, which the Museum has now digitised
• around 2,000 additional records of New Zealand servicemen who served in the Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) – purchased for Online Cenotaph by the Ministry for Culture and Heritage
• linking of of 437 records from the Māori Pioneer Battalion with a digital image of their signatures on the Pioneer Scroll, on display in the Scars I gallery
• digitising of the Mickle Album, including the 60 photographs of friends from Birkenhead who volunteered and left New Zealand to fight in WWI

3/4 portrait of Sapper Bertram Charles Robinson, Reg No 12074, of the New Zealand Engineers, No. 2 Field Company. Killed in action in France on 15 November 1916. (Photographer: Herman Schmidt, 1916). Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 31-R984. No known copyright

In the lead up to ANZAC Day, an intriguing selection of books related to both world wars have come on to our shelves here in the Central Auckland Research Centre.

In particular,  I've been drawn to books written about women and their roles in the war, and one such role in particular. An estimated one and a half million women took part, it was highly secretive and every day  they faced the threat of injury or even death – the job of making the ammunition.
“Bomb Girls,” subtitled, “Britain’s Secret Army: The Munitions Army of World War II” relates the real life stories of these girls and women, called up to the munitions factories during the labour shortage. The work was dirty and boring, the hours long. Because the factories were away from towns in the countryside, the girls were often forced to go miles away from home to live in hostels or lodge with strangers. But most of all, the work was dangerous. One woman recounts working on the production line with the bomb detonators, “picking up the detonator – half the size of an aspirin tablet –   with a pair of tweezers one tiny mistake, the slip of a hand, could be fatal. And if the munitions were to leave the factory incorrectly assembled, the consequences for the front line troops could be fatal, too.” Another relates working in what she called “nitrates” – soaking cotton in pans of nitric acid. “They kept a big barrel of water in the shed. This was because of the acid in case someone got badly burned. If that happened they had to throw themselves in to it to save their skin. But usually the acid just splashed you in the face and you’d have to run like bill-o to get the stuff on to your face to calm it down.”

And of course there was living with the day-to-day threat of being bombed by the Luftwaffe.  The Swynnerton, Staffordshire factory, for example, was targeted several times by the Nazis, albeit unsuccessfully.

Photograph from Bomb Girls, (c) Getty Images

Besides the fascinating stories, there are photos of the women at work. There’s Queen Elizabeth and King George at an ammunitions factory which must have given a much welcome morale boost to the workers, and there are photos of the girls and women themselves working with bombs and bullets.  Of added interest, the final chapter lists the munitions factories with detail, how long they operated, and what they produced.

Bomb Girls is by Jacky Hyams and there are borrowable copies at Auckland Libraries.

The East Coast Bays Cenotaph

Anzac Day for me, means Anzac Day services and family time. A time of commemoration of the fallen, and for those who may not have fallen but who's lives were altered completely by war. Its a time of paying respects and thanksgiving.

Every year there seems to be more people turn out for the services.

We went to the Civic Service at East Coast Bays. There was a huge turnout, especially of children from schools and youth/community groups - highlight was the speeches by two prefers from Long Bay College.

Standing in this beautiful location, under the pines, looking out towards the Cenotaph and beyond it the beach and the sea, the peace of the location added to the poignancy and atmosphere of the service. The Coastguard boat and crew even attended, moored just off the beach and still within earshot.

After the service, our family lunched with friends at our local RSA.

We always have a great response each year from the blogging community for our Blog Challenge. This year has been no exception.

We've been blessed with well-researched, well-written blog entries from New Zealand, Australia, England, and Iceland!

Bloggers have used letters, diaries and newspapers, as well as the other traditional resources.

Roll of Honour

Reflection of what Anzac Day means to one family
http://themadnessofhamsters.blogspot.co.nz/2013/03/anzac-day-memories.html

2nd Lt Hugh Lindsay PATTON (NZEF), d 27 Aug 1918, Bapaume, France
http://genealogy-new-zealand.blogspot.co.nz/2013/03/ww1-soldier-hugh-lyndsay-patton-123121.html

Allan (Jack) ELLIS, returned serviceman, WWI AIF
http://anglersrest.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/2013-trans-tasman-anzac-day-blog.html

Cpl Alexander Joseph McDONALD, d 25 April 1915, Gallipoli
http://familystoriesphotographsandmemories.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/military-monday-2013-trans-tasman-anzac.html
and
http://familystoriesphotographsandmemories.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/amanuensis-monday-letter-from-major.html

Pte George FORSYTH, d 9 August 1916, Pozières
http://ancestorchaser.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/private-george-forsyth/

Frederick Andrew NELSON, returned serviceman, WWI AIF
Henry Oscar NELSON, d 20 July 1916, Fromelles
http://rydegoestowar.blogspot.com.au/2013/04/our-anzac-family-nelson-brothers-of.html

Pte John Bertrand CHATFIELD, missing 3 May 1917, later declared dead
http://geniaus.blogspot.com/2013/04/anzac-day-blog-challenge-kintalk.html

Pte James Daniel BOOTHER (BEF), d 23 September 1915, the Marne, France
http://huntingancestors.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/in-memory-of-private-james-daniel.html

Fred MORRIS, d February 1915,  France
Leonard MORRIS, d 1916, the Somme
Ethel FROST and son Leonard, (civilians), d 14 November 1940, air raid, Coventry, England
http://conversationswithgrandma.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/the-power-of-provenance/

Cpl Margery GREENFIELD, d 7 October 1945, Rennes, France
http://corrinne-kiwicolleen.blogspot.com.au/

Denis Patrick FINN, returned serviceman WWI AIF
Robert FINN, returned serviceman WWI AIF
John FINN, returned serviceman WWI AIF
http://www.shaunahicks.com.au/world-war-one-the-brothers-finn/

Ernest James HAMBLIN, d 14 October 1917, Battle of Broodseinde, Flanders
http://halfmuffled.wordpress.com/2013/04/24/ernest-james-hamblin-the-anzac-connection/

Sgt Peter M GAFFANEY (NZRB), 5 April 1918, Mailly-Maillet, France
http://blog.iwikiwi.com/2013/04/for-acts-of-gallantry-in-the-field-sgt-p-m-gaffaney-m-m/

Indigenous Australians at war
http://troppont.wordpress.com/2013/04/25/v-is-for-our-valiant-indigenous-anzacs/

2nd Lieut Percival Richard COUTTS (AIF), returned serviceman
Sgt Arthur Theodore COUTTS (AIF), d 30 November 1917, Flanders
Leo William COUTTS (AIF), returned serviceman
http://vickitheviking.blogspot.co.nz/2013/04/war-does-not-determine-who-is-right.html

LCpl Leslie Herbert COOMBRIDGE (AIF), returned serviceman
http://mywdfamilies.wordpress.com/2013/04/25/from-six-bob-tourist-to-souvenir/

Also you are welcome to re-read ANZAC Day Blog Challenge Review 2012 and the 2011 Review of the TransTasman Anzac Day Blog Challenge.

Thank you to all who contributed your stories. Thanks also to those who read these blogs.

Remember also in the lead up to the centenary commemorations, that you can contribute your New Zealand stories to New Zealand's WW100, and your Australian and New Zealand stories to Inside History and FindMyPast's Memory Bank, to help preserve your families' memories of WWI.

Kind regards

SEONAID

Where will you be commemorating Anzac Day this year?

In Auckland, the biggest focus is always on the dawn service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

This year the Museum's Illuminate 2013 ran from April 22-24 in the evenings and

"focuses on the contributions and sacrifices of Pacific peoples alongside the Maori Battalion and the foundation this created for enduring ties between our countries and for Pacific self-governance. The archival footage was edited by Illuminate guest curator Pita Turei. With thanks to Archives New Zealand."

Although Symonds Street Cemetery was closed to new burial plots in 1886, people continued to be buried there if they had family already there right up until 1950s - from the end of 1909, they had the added requirement of needing to also be over 50 years of age.
  

Full length portrait of Private William Parker, Reg No 38740, of the Auckland Infantry Regiment, 22nd Reinforcements, - E Company. Killed in action in France on 4th October 1917 at the Battle of Passchendaele. Heritage Images: 'Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, 31-P2442'


However, there are 11 names associated with World War One noted in the Cemetery. Memorials were erected for soldiers lost in action. These are:

• Sapper Walter Edwin Clarke (4/516) who was killed in action on Gallipoli on 7 August 1915.
• Sapper Alfred Ernest Drummond (12/2687) who was killed in action in France on 4 October 1917.
• Private Walter Drummond (12/3307) who was killed in action in France on 26 September 1916.
• Private Thomas William Hobson (12/3681) who was killed in action in France on 7 July 1916.
• Corporal Leonard Ivy Joseph McCarthy (24663) who was killed in action in France on 17 February 1918.
• Private Ernest Wieland Monk of the Royal Fusiliers who died in France on 12 March 1916.
• Lance Corporal Charles Stanley Nicholson (23/535) who was killed in action in France on 15 September 1916.
• Corporal Edward John Parker (2/2896) who was killed in action in France on 26 September 1918.
• Private William Parker (38740) who was killed in action in France on 4 October 1917.
• Rifleman Stanley William Rowe (26690) who was killed in action in France on 12 June 1917.
• Wesley Neal Spragg, Royal Flying Corps, who was killed in action in Egypt on 1 January 1918.

David Verran

PS - Don't forget you can contribute
your ANZAC story to our
Trans-Tasman ANZAC Day Blog Challenge

Easter Weekend brings with it the beginning of April, which also means that ANZAC Day is drawing ever nearer.

This is the day, that is a national day of remembrance for Australian and New Zealanders who died during armed conflict.

Do you have a story to share about an ANZAC? We'd like to hear about not only their sacrifice, but the way it shaped their family history. Maybe you want to blog from the perspective of those that were left behind?

Your story doesn't have to involve a serviceperson who lost their lives - during times of war, all sorts of loss unfortunately are experienced. 

And you can write about those who served in other wars.

To participate:

• Write a blog post about an Australian or New Zealander serviceman or woman's family, and the impact war had on their family history
• Post a comment with the URL to your blog on the comments section of this page. Or if you don't have a blog then email us your story at kintalk@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
• Publish your post by 25 April 2013.

 Apologies for the lateness of this Anzac Day Blog Challenge. As you will see, we have a fabulous new look for our blog, thanks to our terrific Digital Services team. Special thanks to Tosca and Ben, who put this together!


My girls took part in the Anzac Day Citizens Parade once again - as Scouts this year. One of my daughter's is also now an Assistant Patrol Leader. They are growing up so fast.

As usual, Anzac Day is a time for reflection. As a proud mother, I can relate a bit to the pride the mothers of the servicemen and women that fought, and get some inkling of the fear mixed with pride that the mothers must have felt when their children marched off to war.

Mothers look at their children with such hope for the future.

Once again, we have a great mix of New Zealand and Australian service people contributed from bloggers all over.

First post is Shelley, my co-host from last year:

• Shelley of Twigs of Yore: Charles George French, returned serviceman, WWI
  Story told from his mother's perspective.
• Annie: Private Arthur Edward Taylor, died of meningitis while at training camp 1916. War grave near Annie's family bach.
• Merron: The McClintock brothers. WWI - James McClintock, died in action; John McClintock, died of wounds; Albert McClintock, medically discharged due to wounds
• Helen Smith: George Howard Busby, medically discharged due to wounds WWI
• Fi: 2nd Lt Philip George Wale missing declared dead, Gallipoli 
• Jill Ball (Geniaus) Private William James Gowan, wounded Gallipoli; died of flu 1919
• Ryde District Historical Society "Ryde Goes to War " project: Private David Chestnut, missing, declared killed in action Gallipoli
• SuzySu: Wallace Oliver Gray discharged due to wounds, and Eric Andrew Gray killed in action 1918
• Bob Vine: Sgt Sydney John Vine, WWI "death due to war service" 1922
• Kylie Wilson: Captain Oscar Geoffrey Buring, killed in action WWII
• Julie Goucher: Lance Corporal Henri Wilhelm Erickson, AIF WWI killed in action 1917
• Alona Tester: Otto Rafael Winter, returned serviceman of WWI and WWII
• Caitlin: Ben Palmer and Les Palmer, both discharged due to wounds WWI
• Tanya Honey: George Henry James Pearson, returned WWII serviceman; and Tanya's father Vietnam veteran;
• Pauline Cass: Private James Thomas Paterson, killed in action Bullincourt 1917 WWI
• Shauna Hicks: Leslie Gordon Price, Rat of Tobruk and returned serviceman WWII
• Aillin: Hubert Randall Chambers, discharged due to wounds 1917, WWI
• Kerry: Lt Noel Edward Farmer, returned serviceman WWII
• Jennifer Youngberry, who doesn't have a blog contributed this story:

Whilst growing up there weren’t many in the family with a military history. My grandfather was too young for WWI and in essential services (Railway) and not released for WWII. He did have a couple of brothers Driver Fred Farnham 65 Transport Platoon and Sergeant Alex Farnham 9 Div Ammunition Column but each Anzac Day when my interest was peaked they were no-where about to question although my Grandfather assured me that his job was very important in the war effort frankly I didn’t see how working on the Queensland railway system helped (I see now they did have an important contribution to make), anyway as a child I was resigned to the fact that there were no heroes in my family.


Upon marrying I bought into a little more military history and hence my daughter being able to answer the challenge this ANZAC Day about the Shark Shooting Benjamin and Les the uncle who never married the girl he loved and was engaged to pre war because he couldn’t give her children post war.


I’ve always been interested in the family tree and over the years I’ve gathered many stories and much information about past ancestors but late in 2011 I was blown away to find my Great Great Grandmother’s brother was one of the original ANZACs from Galipolli and one who came home.


So I’ve done a little research into his war service and found he finished service a Private it set me thinking about those brave ANZAC’s and how many there must have been, men who achieved no rise in rank although they were there at every battle required of them.


What form of bravery is that! To continually fight, to continually hold steadfast, to continually meet the enemy time and time again, to aid and assist the wounded their mates, to go into battle over and over again for years and yet to be a Private at the end.


My pride in Private Arthur Harman WWI is immense! ANZAC yes! HERO YES!

I am British born, and of British parentage - so I don't have an Anzac to write about.

Like nearly all of us though, we had ancestors who served on both sides of our conflicts.

My paternal grandfather was in the Royal Navy in both WWI and WWII. My maternal grandfather served in the British Army in WWII. I had uncles who also served.

One uncle I have researched and written about on my personal blog: Able Seaman George Henry Harvey, I've just written an updated post about him, due to my cousin Mary having discovered a document in her family files.

Thank you so much to those of you who contributed this year. I enjoyed reading your stories, and shed quite a few tears.

Thanks to those of you reading this and helping ensure that the names of our servicepeople live on.


Seonaid

Australians and New Zealanders know ANZAC Day - 25 April - as a national day of remembrance for Australian and New Zealanders who died during armed conflict.
Last year, we ran a blog challenge that was very successful -  we invited Australians and New Zealanders to write about their Anzacs, in celebration of their life and in commemoration of their service and their sacrifice. Not all the stories were of people who died. Sacrifice comes in all forms. Not all of the stories were of family members.

Do you have a story to share about an ANZAC? We'd like to hear about not only their sacrifice, but the way it shaped their family history. Maybe you want to blog from the perspective of those that were left behind?

To participate:

• Write a blog post about an Australian or New Zealander serviceman or woman's family, and the impact war had on their family history
• Post a comment with the URL to your blog on the comments section of this page. Or if you don't have a blog then email us your story at kintalk@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
• Publish your post by 25 April 2012.