Map of Wellington College students killed in Belgium

The impact of the First World War on local communities and institutions such as clubs and schools is starkly illustrated by the experience of Wellington College. During the war 1643 of this school’s former pupils served overseas. Of these, 222 were killed, and a further 350 were wounded.

This map of Wellington shows the location of the homes of some of the 40 college old boys who were killed on the battlefields of Belgium (including 11 who had been boarders at the college). In a pattern repeated throughout New Zealand, few streets or suburbs were untouched by the fatal consequences of war. Many residents would have known or been related to one or more of these men.