Theme 06

Lives Changed

Everyone’s life was changed in some way by the War. With the loss of more than 18,000 lives, most New Zealanders knew someone who had died.

Thousands of returning soldiers suffered physical and mental injuries and their rehabilitation and reintegration into life at home posed challenges. Others put the War behind them and got on with their lives as best they could. As the country began settling in for peace, they had to face a new, devastating enemy – influenza.

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Nurse Sybilla Maude ran a central medicine depot in Cathedral Square during the 1918 influenza pandemic

Alexander Turnbull Library 1/1-008542-G

Ethel's Loss

Henry Nicholas died before receiving Ethel Martin’s last letter

Dorothy's Engagement

On 4 January 1918 Miss Dorothy Broad of Greymouth became engaged to Captain Thomas Wyville Leonard Rutherfurd.

From London to Leeston

Bert Gill put the War behind him when he came back to New Zealand

Adjusting to a New Reality

Less than a month before the War ended, a shrapnel wound to the head blinded Alfred Corey

Video: Black November

Between October and November 1918, a deadly influenza pandemic spread throughout New Zealand

Alfred and Elsie Corey

This online exhibition is representative of Canterbury and World War One: Lives Lost Lives Changed, a temporary exhibition which ran from 30 November 2017 to 11 November 2018 at Canterbury Museum.

On the Eve of War

At the turn of the twentieth century, Canterbury was one of the most prosperous provinces in New Zealand

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Going to War

Britain’s declaration of war caused great excitement in Canterbury. Thousands enlisted in the New Zealand Expeditionary Force

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The War Away

New Zealand soldiers and nurses endured the joys and sorrows of life at war and all had stories worth telling

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The War at Home

In many respects the war at home was the women’s war

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Illness, Injury and Death

Up to 18.4 million people were killed and 23.7 million injured in World War One

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Lives Changed

Everyone’s life was changed in some way by the War. Most New Zealanders knew someone who had died

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Reflections

World War One prematurely ended the lives of millions and forever changed the world

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Roll of Honour

Remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice by adding a poppy to the Roll of Honour

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This online exhibition is representative of Canterbury and World War One: Lives Lost Lives Changed, a temporary exhibition which ran from 30 November 2017 to 11 November 2018 at Canterbury Museum.

Lives Changed

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