World War One: Up Close and Personal
Events of 100 years ago are brought to vivid life by sound.
Over the decades, Radio New Zealand has generated an exceptional amount of programming related to World War One.
This selection, curated by experienced radio documentary-maker Jack Perkins from Spectrum, provides glimpses into the experience of the first World War by those who went through it.
Collection items
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New Zealand and Australian troops land at ANZAC cove
New Zealand and Australian troops land at ANZAC cove, 25 April 1915. There’s panic among NZ troops when first they come under Turkish fire but an officer with a drawn revolver re-establishes… Audio
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Song 'Bill Massey's Army', a parody sung by Les Cleveland
Bill Massey was NZ's Prime Minister during World War 1. A Politics lecturer at Wellington's Victoria University, Les Cleveland collected songs and poems by New Zealanders about World War One. Audio
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Poem 'The Spirit of ANZAC' written by Les Cleveland
25 Apr 2015This poem reflects the bitterness felt by some soldiers and subsequent generations at the failure of some of the strategies and tactics employed at Gallipoli. Audio
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Water shortage at Anzac Cove April 1915
NZ soldier R.J. Waite recalls ways and means of dealing with a shortage of water after landing at Anzac Cove April 1915. Audio
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The trenches at Gallipoli
Sergeant Cobb, Wellington Mounted Rifles, recalls constructing trenches at Gallipoli and conditions in the trenches. He notes that the outdoor living experienced by many NZ soldiers back home gives… Audio
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Being wounded at Gallipoli
A NZ soldier recalls being wounded at Gallipoli and applying his own basic first aid to his shattered knee. He is then carried to medical facilities on the beach which are totally inadequate. Audio
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Burying the dead at Gallipoli
Sergeant Cobb recalls an armistice to bury the dead from both sides at Gallipoli, May 1915. Burial lessened the threat of disease and was in the interests of both the allied and Turkish forces. Audio
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Tunnelling under trenches at Gallipoli
Engineers known as sappers tunnelled under each other’s trenches at Gallipoli with the aim of blowing up the enemy trenches. Audio
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Jobs carried out by soldiers in the trenches
A description of the variety of jobs carried out by soldiers in the trenches at Gallipoli. These tasks mainly involved maintenance of the trenches as defensive positions and making it easier to spy… Audio
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Keeping clean in the Gallipoli trenches
How soldiers tackled the hopeless task of trying to keep themselves clean in the Gallipoli trenches. Fresh water was severely rationed and it was dangerous to swim in the sea because of Turkish… Audio
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The Red Cross recover wounded at the battle of the Somme
Showing the internationally recognised flag with a red cross on a white background, British and German soldiers recover their wounded during the battle of the Somme. Audio
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An incident during the battle of Passchendaele
NZ soldier recalls an incident during the battle of Passchendaele involving an Australian soldier searching the battle field for his hand which had been blown off earlier. But it was a ring on one of… Audio
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A vivid description of the battle of Passchendaele.
At the battle of Passchendaele allied troops were slaughtered while attacking well-fortified enemy positions. Stretcher bearers, including Maori from the NZ Pioneer Battalion, were armpit-deep in mud… Audio
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Caring for the wounded near the front line in France
NZ theatre sister Wills recalls caring for the wounded near the front line in France. After large battles the hospital often didn’t have enough beds for the wounded who were laid on the floor on… Audio
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Reading: The advance at the battle of Messines
Author and Labour politician John A. Lee describes the advance at the battle of Messines, read from his book 'Civilian into Soldier' about his World War 1 experiences, published in 1937. Audio
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NZ Mounted Rifle Brigade horses shipped to Egypt
A description of how NZ horses were shipped to Egypt to form the NZ Mounted Rifle Brigade which fought Turkish forces in Palestine. The Mounted Rifle Brigade could move very fast in the desert and… Audio
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NZ Increased taxes and national debt to pay for the war effort
25 Apr 2015NZ Increased taxes and national debt to pay for the war effort. The track also includes official advice on how to attract civilians into the forces by representing service as a career opportunity… Audio
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Poem: 'Socks'
A woman wonders about her absent soldier-husband’s welfare as she knits for troops overseas. The government encouraged women to send home-made clothing to soldiers at the various fronts. Audio
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Conscientious objector Duncan McCormack
25 Apr 2015Conscientious objector Duncan McCormack is subject to taunts and eventually arrested and marched through Auckland city. He then refuses to put on military uniform and is placed in military… Audio
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The life-and-limb costs of the war
The life-and-limb costs of the war to NZ; the home front realities at war’s end, including placing returned soldiers on marginal or poor farming land. Includes two end-of-war song parodies. Audio
New Zealand World War 1 soldiers in a trench, yards from the Turkish trenches in Gallipoli. From Duncan Suzanne Family photographs Ref: PA1-o-1019-47-2. Alexander Turnbull Library.
Archival audio supplied by Nga Taonga Sound and Vision.
