War quilts

Anzac quilts

Te Aka Mauri is fortunate to have been lent 2 quilts made by Tracey Shepherd to commemorate the end of the First World War.

The first of these is titled Toward the Light. ..When you study this quilt you can see at the bottom the blood stained, barbed wired waters and beach. This was created by dyeing the fabric. The dull colours speak of the war-scarred ground, burnt out trees are visible. Parts of this quilt are created using old war uniforms. You can see a pocket with the blood-stained lace of his wife/sweethearts handkerchief which he carried close to his heart to remind him of home. The fabrics lighten as they rise to softer browns, and pale greens. Eventually fields of poppies, under which so many lay, appear, followed by the blue yet stormy looking sky, symbolising the end of the conflict and beginning of peace. 

The second quilt, Forgotten Son, is more personal. In the upper half of the quilt is a fabric photograph of Jesse Rogers, the great uncle from Oamaru who headed off to WW1.  Again, the colours of the ground hold images of conflict along with scattered poppies. Again, pieces of army uniforms and lace are used. To the right is Jesse’s oak tree. Jesse was killed 3 months before the end of the war and is buried in France. The town of Oamaru planted an oak for each of the local soldiers who perished in WW1. Underneath each tree is a cross with the soldier’s name. 

These quilts will are on display on the 2^nd floor of Te Aka Mauri, near the Discovery Space/ Heritage and Research area for the month of November. Please come and view the quilts and other items, such as old newspapers announcing Armistice, that are also on display.

Thanks to Tracey Shepherd for lending the quilts for display. This post is by Trish.

Armistice in Rotorua , 1918-1919.

Victory : Germany Surrenders

Rotorua Chronicle 12 November 1918, pg.2
Held by Te Aka Mauri Rotorua Library

This edition is the only copy the Library has of 1918 and beyond, we are thankful this one was sent to the Rotorua Library from Cambridge where it was discovered in items donated to that Library. 

During 1918 there were many soldiers in Rotorua due to the reputation of the Sanatorium and King George V Hospital's as a spa location which offered therapies that would benefit the soldiers greatly.
In an account of nurses that worked in Rotorua at the ‘King George V Military Hospital’ referred to it  as the ‘Pukeroa Convalescent Hospital” as it was sited on Pukeroa Hill overlooking Ohinemutu.  

On 12 November 1918, communities throughout New Zealand celebrated the news that an armistice had been signed between the Allies and Germany the previous day. The celebrations were enthusiastic and heartfelt, but they were also spontaneous and inevitably somewhat rambling affairs. 

Premature reports of an armistice several days earlier raised doubts about whether the 11 November armistice was official, and in some areas celebrations were marred by the 1918 influenza pandemic.

The armistice did not mark the official end of the war; the terms of peace had not yet been signed. Almost immediately, communities throughout New Zealand and the Empire began to plan elaborate peace celebrations that would mark the official end of the war in a manner befitting the sacrifices that had been made.

Peace celebrations were held throughout New Zealand in July 1919 – everywhere from the main centres and their surrounding suburbs to small towns and rural areas. Following advice from the government, most communities held their celebrations on Saturday 19th, Sunday 20th and Monday 21st. Most also followed the format originally announced by the government, which called for a Soldiers’ Day, a Day of Thanksgiving and a Children’s Day.

Rotorua Celebrations (in the New Zealand Herald published on 16/7/1919.)

£100 was allocated for the children’s demonstration, including procession, entertainment and sports at the Y.M.C.A. 

£150 was allocated for the Soldier’s Dinner to be held on Saturday Evening. £60 was allocated for the Saturday Afternoon Procession.

Saturday and Monday were observed as full holidays.

The NZ Herald, of 22 July 1919 Reported the following about Rotorua’s Peace Celebrations.

“A Procession headed by native veterans of the Maori War, with tattered old flags, and including wounded soldiers, returned soldiers, territorials, cadets, scouts and many effective tableaux, paraded the town. Over 300 soldiers were entertained at dinner on Saturday evening, at King George V Hospital and the Sanatorium, followed by a dance. A procession of over 800 children, followed by sports, luncheon and picture matinee. In the evening a bonfire at the lake shore was lighted”

Krups Gun at the eastern corner of the Arawa Soldiers Memorial in the Government Gardens
With thanks to Kete Rotorua for this photograph

Compiled with thanks to Papers Past and The New Zealand History website  

This blog post is by Alison Leigh

Armistice Day Commemorations in 2018

At 11am on 11 November this year, Aotearoa New Zealand will mark the centenary of the armistice that ended the First World War in 1918. On that day 100 years ago, after four years of brutal conflict, war finally gave way to peace.

The First World War had taken a huge toll on New Zealand. Around 100,000 New Zealanders – or ten percent of the population at the time – served overseas during the war, and over 18,000 lost their lives. Families and communities back home felt these losses acutely.

When news of the Armistice reached our shores it was met with thanksgiving, hopefulness and joyous noise.

The Armistice centenary gives us the opportunity to acknowledge the loss and trauma of the First World War, as well as reflect on peace and hope at the centenary of its closure. As well as joining together in remembrance, we can recapture the relief and jubilation of that important day a century ago. https://ww100.govt.nz/armistice

So, what’s happening in Rotorua during November 2018 to mark Armistice Day?

Week of 5^th November: Beyond the grave. Rotorua high school students will be  cleaning  WW1 soldiers' headstones located in the historic section of Sala Street Cemetery. This project is co-ordinated by the Rotorua Museum and RSA.

Te Aka Mauri Rotorua Library's Anahera Sadler & Ani Sharland, Sala Street Cemetery

9^th November: Rotorua Armistice Day 1918 presentation by Heritage & Research staff at 11am in the Discovery Space, Te Aka Mauri. This presentation will be repeated on Armistice Day at 1pm at the Blue Baths.

Te Aka Mauri Rotorua Library's Alison Leigh & Trish Brown

10^th November: Book Launch of Touched by War, by Alison Brown and Matthew Martin at 11am Discovery Space, Te Aka Mauri. There will be copies of the book for sale.

11^th November: Armistice Day Commemoration Service 10.30 – 11.30 at Cenotaph followed by 3 hours family friendly afternoon celebrations. See local papers and the  council website for programme. Activities include donkey rides, Highland Pipe Band, Rotorua Brass Band, Travelling Tuataras, Black Porch and more. Afternoon tea and scones will be available at the Blue Baths where there will also be a repeat of the Rotorua Armistice 1918 presentation by a Heritage & Research library staff member

6^th -19th November: Field of Remembrance. Crosses in Government Gardens.

16th November: Author talk and book launch of The Aro Street Girls by Lyndsay Campbell, 1.30 Discovery Space, Te Aka Mauri Rotorua Library.

Month of November: Displays in Te Aka Mauri, along with weekly blogs on the Library website, include Quilts, Books, 1918 Hot Lakes Chronicle newspaper.

Month of November: He Pou Aroha - Community Cenotaph Kiosk from Auckland War Memorial Museum will be on the 2nd floor at Te Aka Mauri to help you discover and share stories of those who served. Anyone can contribute to the Online Cenotaph by digitising Taonga, documents, letters, medals, photographs, and war memorabilia. Or simply discover your connection and lay a digital poppy or leave a personal message.

November: Creation and Presentation of Roll of Honour, Masonic Lodge. A roll of honour of the names of Lodge Rotorua Brethren who served in WW1 to be hung in Lodge Room.

This blog was compiled by Trish. With thanks to Tracey Shepherd, Allan Birtwistle (Rotorua Masonic Lodge), Auckland War Memorial Museum, Rotorua Lakes Council