On Monday, 18 April, I issued my annual Trans-Tasman Anzac Day Blog Challenge.

Its where I invite people to submit their blogs, written from their research about family members who served in the wars.

This year it was the centenary of the First Anzac Day. Our remembrance day that we share with our mates across the ditch.

Attendances at commemorations were at a record high throughout New Zealand; and from what I have read, they were in Australia too.

Its thought provoking to see so many children and young people taking part in the march, the ceremony, or just as part of the crowd. A large number wearing medals of grandparents or great-grandparents . . .

What is it about Anzac Day that interests so many young people and motivates them to get up to the Dawn Parade, or the Citizens Ceremony a couple of hours later?

Sitting at the bottom of the world, with images of war on the news on TV, maybe makes war seem more real - combined with the learning the children get at school and the ensuing conversations at home about what "Grandad (<insert other family members' title here>) did in the war".

My two girls are in Yr 11 now. Every year since they started school they've learned about Anzac Day. And each year, they have learned more and a bit deeper about the topic, broadening out - like building blocks of knowledge.

This year, we really had some conversations around the dinner table. They had learned such a lot about the First and Second World Wars - how they started, the politics, the Anzacs and the Allies. We discussed the Treaty of Versailles, the great campaigns like Gallipoli and Passchendale, how Hitler came to power and about the death camps.

We also discussed the impact on women (including those who served) and families left behind as well as the stories of the conscientious objectors.

My husband and I discussed with them, members of our own families who had served and what parts they played. It got very sad at times.

I was privileged to be able to guide my girls with their homework and their projects. and send them into my own place of work to do their own research, guided by my awesome colleagues (as it was a non-work day for me).

I don't remember learning this period of history so intensely and wholistically when I was at school, such a very long time ago now. I think the learning at schools these days seems to be alot more objective and delve more deeply into the topic than in my day (at least at my school).

Of course, researchers have been adding to the accumulated knowledge; while museums, libraries and archives have been collecting stories, and retrieving and preserving records. So much more is known by the general public now, than in the years following the return of our service personnel.

The most keen researchers of course, have been family historians. Those that have been researching their family. Apart from assembling genealogies, family historians research to pay tribute to and honour their ancestors by remembering them - even more poignant when it is someone who saw active duty.

It's this personal connection to the past that creates the interest to know what happened. And this I believe is what also brings people of all ages to the Anzac Day services.

This year, my Anzac Day blog challenge was issued late, but a number of bloggers still rose to the challenge.

I share their names and links here, so that you can read their research and stories of their family that they have chosen to share:

Alison: Anzac Day 1916 - Richard O'Brien & Hugh O'Brien 
Jonas Mockunas: Baltic Anzacs in the First World War
Jennifer Jones: Ellenor Calnan – Bangka Island Massacre
Jill Ball: Herb Sullivan - a Fighter joins the fray
Fiona Tellesson: Major Hugh Quinn - The Man Behind Quinn's Post Gallipoli Turkey WW1
Fiona Tellesson: Gallipoli hero Captain Samuel William Harry - 100 years on
Barb: Two great-uncles of mine: Patrick Joseph Stettler and John Harold Stettler
Fran Kitto: Herbert Eric Cleveland Kitto #atozchallenge U – Uncle Eric
Kerryn Taylor: Bugler William John Pike MORGAN of Euroa
Shauna Hicks: The Finn Brothers – 2016 Trans Tasman ANZAC Day Blog Challenge
Pauleen Cass: Anzac Day 2016: Villers-Brettoneux and James Paterson
Alex Daw: U is for HMAS Una (oh allright and Uniforms too)

My grateful appreciation to the people who blogged this year. The majority of these bloggers come back every year and contribute to this blog challenge, and we get to learn a bit more about history through reading their family research,.

Please do take the time to read through these amazing blogs - and follow them as I know they will have more outstanding stories to share.

Happy reading

Seonaid


Lest we forget . . .

The 100th anniversary of the First World War has meant there has been a huge flurry of activity to make research resources available worldwide.

A large number of books have been reprinted, some have been revised and updated and a number have been newly written.

My Family History shelves are groaning with new resources, and I know that other non-fiction and reference collections throughout Auckland Libraries are similarly bulging with new books.

Here at Auckland Libraries we have created a webpage on our website devoted to the centenary commemorations, which includes links to a themed page or new and recommended reading list including selected family history titles. This is just a small sample of new items we have - we have many more resources on the shelves.

Additionally, we also have developed the Our Boys, Your Stories website, where we have curated digitised versions of our collection.

Have a look at the Resources page on the Our Boys website to see what has been developed to assist you! Particularly the "Our Boys, Our Families" research guide that has been developed to assist you with your research. Feel free to download the guide to your computer.

Anzac Day is the day that is a national day of remembrance for Australians and New Zealanders who died during armed conflict.

This is the fifth year that Auckland Libraries and the Kintalk blog have issued a Trans-Tasman Anzac Day Blog Challenge.

Do you have a story to share about an Anzac?

Stories we'd like to hear about could be about their service, or the way their sacrifice shaped or impacted on 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, families had all sorts of experiences.

And you can write about those who also served in other wars, as all who served in Australia and New Zealand are now recognised as Anzacs.

Maybe you have written about your Anzac before, and have more research to add to the story?

To participate:

• See if your service person is included in the Our Boys website. If he/she is please create a free account and add your story or
• Write a blog post about an serviceman or woman and/or their family, and the impact war had on their family's story or
• Post a comment with the URL to your blog on the comments section of this post or
• If you don't have a blog then you can email us your story at kintalk@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz and we will share it for you
• Publish your post by 26 April 2015.

• 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 Auckland Libraries.
Blog away
Seonaid

This year's blog challenge is late - primarily due to the fact that in March I was attending the 2015 AFFHO Congress (Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations) in Canberra (more about that in a later blog), and there was much I had to do to prepare before I left.

The 100th anniversary of the First World War has meant there has been a huge flurry of activity to make research resources available worldwide.

A large number of books have been reprinted, some have been revised and updated and a number have been newly written.

My Family History shelves are groaning with new resources, and I know that other non-fiction and reference collections throughout Auckland Libraries are similarly bulging with new books.

Here at Auckland Libraries we have created a webpage on our website devoted to the centenary commemorations, which includes links to a themed page or new and recommended reading list including selected family history titles. This is just a small sample of new items we have - we have many more resources on the shelves.

Additionally, we also have developed the Our Boys, Your Stories website, where we have curated digitised versions of our collection.

Have a look at the Resources page on the Our Boys website to see what has been developed to assist you! Particularly the "Our Boys, Our Families" research guide that has been developed to assist you with your research. Feel free to download the guide to your computer.

Anzac Day is the day that is a national day of remembrance for Australians and New Zealanders who died during armed conflict.

This is the fifth year that Auckland Libraries and the Kintalk blog have issued a Trans-Tasman Anzac Day Blog Challenge.

Do you have a story to share about an Anzac?

Stories we'd like to hear about could be about their service, or the way their sacrifice shaped or impacted on 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, families had all sorts of experiences.

And you can write about those who also served in other wars, as all who served in Australia and New Zealand are now recognised as Anzacs.

Maybe you have written about your Anzac before, and have more research to add to the story?

To participate:

• See if your service person is included in the Our Boys website. If he/she is please create a free account and add your story or
• Write a blog post about an serviceman or woman and/or their family, and the impact war had on their family's story or
• Post a comment with the URL to your blog on the comments section of this post or
• If you don't have a blog then you can email us your story at kintalk@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz and we will share it for you
• Publish your post by 26 April 2015.

• 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 Auckland Libraries.
Blog away
Seonaid

2014 is a significant year, with August being the 100th anniversary of beginning of WWI.

Countries around the world are preparing to take part and contribute to commemorations. Many institutions have instigated projects to record memories and consolidate resources, particular online.

Have a look at what Heritage and Research at Auckland Libraries "Our boys, their families" has developed to assist you! Feel free to download to your computer.

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

This is the fourth year that Auckland Libraries and the Kintalk blog have issued a Trans-Tasman ANZAC Day Blog Challenge.

Do you have a story to share about an ANZAC? 

Stories we'd like to hear about could be about their sacrifice, or the way it shaped or impacted on 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 also served in other wars, as all who served in Australia and New Zealand are recognised as ANZACs.

Maybe you have written about your ANZAC before, and have more research to add to the story?

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 post.
  Or if you don't have a blog then email us your story at kintalk@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
• Publish your post by 26 April 2015.

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."

 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.