New Zealand’s Western Front Campaign
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 in September, 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.
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.
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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