Saluting the Sacrifice

The Parish of Opawa- St Martins is pleased to be able to host ” Saluting the Sacrifice” in which four speakers will talk on aspects of the First World War.

Sarah Murray ( Curator of Human History at the Canterbury Museum) will speak on “Remnants of War; legacies of World War One through the Collections of the Canterbury Museum”, Simon Moody ( Research Office at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand) will speak on “New Zealanders and the War in the Air 1914-18”, Warren Lidstone’s ( Head of History, Christ’s College) talk is entitled “Then and Now” Jane Teal ( Archivist Christ’s College) will speak about Anglican Chaplains.

Where: St Mark’s Hall Opawa Rd, entrance from Vincent Place

When: Thursday 2nd October 2014 7.00pm-9.15pm

Cost: Gold coin koha

Please email the parish office opawastmartins@clear.net.nz if you plan to attend, for catering purposes.

‘Lies, Damned lies, and Propaganda: British state propaganda in the First World War.

CANTERBURY HISTORY FOUNDATION – THE JIM GARDNER MEMORIAL LECTURE 2014.

Sunday 20 July at 2.30pm in Central Lecture Theatre C2 at the University of Canterbury (plenty of free parking)

Dr David Monger win speak on the subject:
‘Lies, Damned lies, and Propaganda: British state propaganda in the First World War.’

First World War propaganda has generally had a poor reputation. Lord Kitchener’s famous pointing finger is credited in many popular accounts with tricking a generation of young men into volunteering themselves for the futile slaughter and inept leadership of the war. Modern understandings of propaganda as a deceitful and manipulative weapon derive from the post-war backlash against the efforts of the First World War.     •

However, in the same way that historians have increasingly challenged received wisdoms about the conflict’s military history, this talk will show that such assumptions about British state propaganda provide a false and inadequate impression. Far from inspiring British enlistment, the ‘Kitchener’ poster was released after the first and largest rush of enlistment and it was-not one of the most regularly used posters. Propaganda served a multitude of purposes besides recruitment, and was presented in a variety of forms. Atrocities were a part of the story told by propagandists, but not the only thing discussed. And such issues matter because casual assumptions about the inaccuracy of all atrocity stories and the dishonesty of propagandists are used to assist other endeavours, such as the denial of the Armenian genocide.

David Monger is a Senior Lecturer in Modem European History at the University of Canterbury. He is an expert in the history of British official propaganda during the First World War. His book Patriotism and Propaganda in First World War Britain: the National War Aims Committee and civilian morale was first published in 201 2 and released in paperback in 2014. He is currently working on a project exploring British propaganda and the Armenian genocide.

RHODES MEDAL 2014

Before the lecture this year’s Rhodes Medal will be presented to Mr Roger Gilbert, President of the Ellesmere Historical Society, in recognition of his sterling efforts to preserve the historical heritage of this part of Canterbury.

A gold coin donation for the afternoon tea will be appreciated.

 

New Zealand and the First World War – Talks by Jock Phillips and Glyn Harper

On Friday 9 May, renowned speakers Prof Glyn Harper and Dr Jock Phillips will speak on New Zealand and the First World War. The talks are a free public event from 5.30pm-7.15pm in the Bird Hall at Canterbury Museum on Rolleston Avenue.

Canterbury 100 – Help tell the story of Canterbury 1914-1918

Canterbury 100 is a collaborative project, co-ordinated by the region’s major cultural and heritage institutions, telling the story and experiences of Canterbury people during the First World War.

On Sunday 12 October 2014, a free community event will be held at the Air Force Museum of New Zealand, where members of the public will be invited to bring along personal stories and artefacts relating to Cantabrians during World War I; specifically in the period leading up to the Gallipoli campaign of 1915.  Staff from each of the supporting institutions will be on hand to document the material, as well as provide expertise in family history research and object identification and interpretation.  People can discuss the possibility of gifting their material with any of the participating organisations or can arrange to lend it for digitising or display.

The stories and artefacts contributed by the public will provide the content for a community-based exhibition, opening in April 2015, which will tell the story of “Canterbury’s Road to Gallipoli” (title to be confirmed).  The exhibition will then be adapted to a more localised format for touring around communities throughout Canterbury.

It is intended that this will be repeated in the period leading up to the Centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele in 2017, and again to mark the Armistice and Peace celebrations in 2018.  At the conclusion of the WWI Centenary commemorations, the stories will be archived to serve as a permanent memorial to the people of Canterbury who experienced the First World War.

Do you have a story to contribute to the Canterbury 100 project?

We are looking for personal stories, photographs, diaries and papers, and artefacts relating to Cantabrians in World War One, from soldiers and nurses on the front line to the men, women and children who remained on the “Home Front” in New Zealand.

To tell us your story, or for more information about how you can get involved, please visit the Canterbury 100 project site or contact canterbury100@airforcemuseum.co.nz

Organisations supporting Canterbury 100:

• Air Force Museum of New Zealand
• Canterbury Museum
• Christchurch City Libraries
• South Canterbury Museum
• Te Runanga O Ngai Tahu
• University of Canterbury
• New Zealand Micrographic Services

For information about other inititives around the country see ww100.govt.nz.