The human impact - Passchendaele

The toll on families and communities

Almost 60% of the 100,000 New Zealanders who went to war became casualties. More than 18,000 died of wounds or disease – 12,483 of them in France and Belgium. From a population of little more than a million people in 1914, this meant that about one in four New Zealand men between the ages of 20 and 45 was either killed or wounded. The impact of war, though, reached far beyond the individuals involved; most New Zealand families, communities, workplaces, schools and clubs were affected in a very direct way.

Wellington College

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 – 40 of them in Belgium – and a further 350 were wounded.

As well as the old boys and their families, the war took a heavy personal toll on the headmaster of the college, J.P. Firth. He wrote to every former pupil serving overseas and to the families of all those who were killed. He also urged current pupils to do their bit for the war effort through patriotic fund-raising. More ...

Dave Gallaher and the All Blacks

Thirteen former All Black rugby players were killed in the First World War – 1 in 10 of those who had worn the black jersey during the previous decade. The most famous was Sergeant Dave Gallaher, captain of the All Black Originals from 1905 to 1906. The 43-year-old Gallaher was mortally wounded during the successful attack at Gravenstafel Spur on 4 October 1917. He died a few hours later and was buried at Nine Elms Cemetery, Poperinge. More ...

One family's sacrifice

Many New Zealand families suffered multiple tragedies at Passchendaele. The 1176 New Zealanders named on the Memorial to the Missing at Tyne Cot Cemetery in Belgium include at least five sets of brothers.

For one family, the Newloves of Takaka in Nelson, the sacrifice at Passchendaele was greater still – brothers Charles (aged 41), Edwin (32) and Leslie (22) were all killed in the New Zealand Division's attacks of 4 and 12 October 1917. More ...