Tuesday, September 06, 2016

Reminder: Hear Dr Ian McGibbon on New Zealand’s Western Front Campaign at an MCH lunchtime talk (12.15pm at MBIE) Wednesday 7 September.


This presentation will focus on the relationship between New Zealand and its wartime allies on the Western Front. It will examine the connections between New Zealand troops and those of the French and Belgian armies in the field. Unlike at Gallipoli, New Zealand troops fought among civilians on the Western Front. Whether in billets, relaxing in estaminets, enjoying leave in Paris or seeking female company, they interacted with French and Belgians for nearly three years. They also observed them going about their business and formed impressions about their culture.

Due for publication this week, New Zealand’s Western Front Campaign is the first major account of New Zealand’s whole Western Front campaign since the publication of the official history in 1921.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ian McGibbon was formerly General Editor (War History) at the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. He has published extensively on New Zealand’s war history, including the two-volume official history of New Zealand’s involvement in the Korean War and the official history of combat operations in the Vietnam War. He edited the Oxford Companion to New Zealand Military History (2000) and is the author of battlefield guides to both the Western Front and Gallipoli. He was New Zealand’s representative on the tri-nation historical and archaeological survey of the Anzac battlefield at Gallipoli 2009-2014. Since 1981 he has edited the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs’ journal New Zealand International Review. He was made an officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to historical research in 1997. 

 
VENUE:  Please join us tomorrow, 7 September in the MBIE Building (formerly the Defence Building) on Stout Street - up the steps by the HOME Café signage.  You will be directed to a meeting room on the ground floor and the talk will commence promptly at 12.15pm.

 To listen to many earlier Ministry for Culture and Heritage public history talks please go to: http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/handsonhistory/downloads-and-podcasts and for more information about MCH regular public history talks please contact lyn.belt@mch.govt.nz

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