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A Club for Returned Soldiers

The very first branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, later the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services’ Association (RSA), was formed in Christchurch in December 1915.

Canterbury Museum 1977.252.10

Canterbury Museum 2014.58.1

WW037 180801

As more and more wounded veterans returned from the front, local branches opened across the country to provide moral and material support for soldiers and their dependants.

As well as undertaking advocacy work, the RSA played an important role in remembering those who did not return. Today, there are 180 branches of the RSA across New Zealand and more than 100,000 members.