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First World War (1914 to 1918)

First World War (1914 to 1918)

Explore our resources on the First World War, 1914 to 1918.

Holdall with personal items [circa 1910-1920], O'Sullivan collection, CCL-O'Sullivan-4085-004

Events

Event

Finding Your NZ Ancestor's Military Record - Papanui

Apr 9th | 10:00am - 11:30am
Papanui Library
An introduction to the digital and physical resources that can help you find service records and information for those with military roles.
Event

Finding Your NZ Ancestor's Military Record - Fendalton

Apr 30th | 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Fendalton Library
An introduction to the digital and physical resources that can help you find service records and information for those with military roles.
Event

Finding Your NZ Ancestor's Military Record - Sumner

May 6th | 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Matuku Takotako: Sumner Centre
An introduction to the digital and physical resources that can help you find service records and information for those with military roles.
Event

Finding Your NZ Ancestor's Military Record - Papanui

Apr 9th | 10:00am - 11:30am
Papanui Library
An introduction to the digital and physical resources that can help you find service records and information for those with military roles.
Event

Finding Your NZ Ancestor's Military Record - Fendalton

Apr 30th | 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Fendalton Library
An introduction to the digital and physical resources that can help you find service records and information for those with military roles.
Event

Finding Your NZ Ancestor's Military Record - Sumner

May 6th | 2:00pm - 3:30pm
Matuku Takotako: Sumner Centre
An introduction to the digital and physical resources that can help you find service records and information for those with military roles.

Booklists

Staff List

World War diaries and correspondence

Hear the real story of the war through the letters and diaries of New Zealand soldiers in the First and Second World Wars.
Tuakiri
Staff List

We will remember them

Titles that help you locate information about your New Zealand ancestor's military past or learn about the conflict they were involved in.
ChristchurchLib
Staff List

First World War classics

An introductory look at writing, both fiction and non-fiction inspired by First World War.
ChristchurchLib
Staff List

World War 1 and Anzac Day related books

Here's a selection of interesting books Christchurch City Libraries has relating to World War 1, going beyond New Zealand and ANZAC Day
TroyCCL
Staff List

World War diaries and correspondence

Hear the real story of the war through the letters and diaries of New Zealand soldiers in the First and Second World Wars.
Tuakiri
Staff List

We will remember them

Titles that help you locate information about your New Zealand ancestor's military past or learn about the conflict they were involved in.
ChristchurchLib
Staff List

First World War classics

An introductory look at writing, both fiction and non-fiction inspired by First World War.
ChristchurchLib
Staff List

World War 1 and Anzac Day related books

Here's a selection of interesting books Christchurch City Libraries has relating to World War 1, going beyond New Zealand and ANZAC Day
TroyCCL

First World War resources

First World War digital collection
Our digitised First World War resources includes diaries, letters, booklets, and memorabilia.

First World War service personnel
To mark the centenary of the First World War, the New Zealand Government launched WW100 which ran from 2014 to 2018. As part of this programme, staff of Christchurch City Libraries researched the lives of military service personnel who had links to their area. Explore the lives of soldiers, sailors, pilots, and nurses with connections to Christchurch who served in the First World War.

New Zealanders in First World War
A guide to finding information about the men and women who served in the New Zealand armed forces during the First World War.

World War 1914 – 1918
Search our catalogue for items about New Zealand’s involvement in this war.

First World War blog posts

Our WW100 teaching resource is aimed at teachers and students.

First World War in our collection

Blog posts

Interpretation board for Anzac horses: Picturing Canterbury

Interpretation board detailing the history of horses that served in the South African and First World Wars. An image from Canterbury Stories
simonccl

Remembrance recovered

A WWI grave marker is donated to ChristChurch Cathedral and later displayed in the library - Kat wonders, what was this soldier's story?
katccl

Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag: WWI soldiers gear

Annie looks into the sorts of clothing and equipment that was carried by WWI soldiers.
cclstaff

Nursing on the high seas: Hospital ships in WWI

In the lead up to Anzac Day Alison looks at life on board WWI hospital ships.
alireadsccl

Interpretation board for Anzac horses: Picturing Canterbury

Interpretation board detailing the history of horses that served in the South African and First World Wars. An image from Canterbury Stories
simonccl

Remembrance recovered

A WWI grave marker is donated to ChristChurch Cathedral and later displayed in the library - Kat wonders, what was this soldier's story?
katccl

Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag: WWI soldiers gear

Annie looks into the sorts of clothing and equipment that was carried by WWI soldiers.
cclstaff

Nursing on the high seas: Hospital ships in WWI

In the lead up to Anzac Day Alison looks at life on board WWI hospital ships.
alireadsccl

First World War eResources

The following eResources contain useful First World War information, including primary sources:

First World War topics

Pasifika involvement in the First World War

Sgt. Henry Nicholas V.C. M.M.
Christchurch’s only World War 1 Victoria Cross recipient.

Passchendaele
In July 1917 the Battle of Passchendaele began on the Western Front with horrific loss of New Zealand lives.

Armistice Day
The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month marks the moment when hostilities ceased on the Western Front in 1918, with the signing of the Armistice.

Anzac Day - 25 April
Our backgrounder about New Zealand’s national holiday to commemorate New Zealanders killed in war and to honour returned servicemen and women.

1918 influenza epidemic
How Christchurch coped during the world-wide epidemic.

Featured

Website

Anzac Day and Gallipoli

Learn more about the origins of Anzac Day and find library resources about the Anzacs and Gallipoli.
Website

Armistice Day

The 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month marks the end of hostilities in the Western Front 1918, with the Armistice signing.
Website

1918: Influenza epidemic

In November 1918 Christchurch was affected by the influenza pandemic sweeping the world - 462 (out of a population of 92,773) people died.
Staff List

World War diaries and correspondence

Hear the real story of the war through the letters and diaries of New Zealand soldiers in the First and Second World Wars.
Tuakiri

First World War Booklists

Booklists

Staff List

First World War classics

An introductory look at writing, both fiction and non-fiction inspired by First World War.
ChristchurchLib
Staff List

ANZAC - Māori in the Great Wars

Resources that highlight the Māori contribution to the First and Second World Wars.
CCLMāoriServices
Staff List

Gallipoli

A collection of resources that tell the New Zealand story of the Gallipoli Campaign in the First World War.
ChristchurchLib
Staff List

Pacific Islanders in the First World War

A collection of resources about the involvement in the First World War of the people of Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Niue and the Cook Islands.
ChristchurchLib

First World War Images

First World War images

Canterbury Stories sets

Our Great War

Anzac Day

Armistice

Flickr

First World War images
A Flickr set of our First World War images including postcards and photographs.

Field of Remembrance

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