On the occasion of the 110th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme, the New Zealand Liberation Museum – Te Arawhata took part in the Albert Remembrance Village for the first time.
To immerse visitors in the atmosphere of the First World War, we chose to recreate a New Zealand recruitment office, inspired by those that could be found in Auckland at the time.
Our Operations and Marketing Manager, Jacob, dressed in a New Zealand uniform, invited visitors to experience the military recruitment process.
As was done at the time, he asked them a series of questions before conducting a vision test, recreating the stages of recruitment for volunteers preparing to join the New Zealand forces.
Alongside him, our Learning and Engagement Manager, Lindsay, dressed in an Edwardian outfit inspired by Lady Liverpool, the wife of the Governor of New Zealand, hosted a workshop dedicated to sending care packages to soldiers at the front.
This activity paid tribute to the Lady Liverpool Fund, an organisation that sent up to 24,000 parcels per month to New Zealand soldiers in the trenches.
Visitors were able to discover the stories of several soldiers, as well as the typical contents of these parcels, which served as a vital connection between the front lines and the families who remained at home.
The stand was a great success throughout the weekend. This first participation by the museum in a historical reenactment event was a particularly rewarding experience. We had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with many French, Belgian, and British visitors, all of whom shared a genuine interest in the memory of the First World War.
