Western Front

1916: Armentières and the Battle of the Somme

1916: Armentières and the Battle of the Somme

They entered a place of bloody nightmare. Of the 15,000 New Zealand troops who came to the Somme in 1916, 2000 died and close to 6000 were wounded. more...

1917: Arras, Messines and Passchendaele

1917: Arras, Messines and Passchendaele

In terms of lives lost, 1917 was the mostly costly of the NZEF’s three years on the Western Front. more...

1918: Spring Offensive and Advance to Victory

1918: Spring Offensive and Advance to Victory

In 1918, a series of major German and Allied offensives broke the stalemate of trench warfare on the Western Front, resulting in the collapse of the German Army and the end of the war within the year. more...

New Zealand and Le Quesnoy

New Zealand and Le Quesnoy

A week before the First World War ended, New Zealand troops captured Le Quesnoy in their last major action. The French town continues to mark the event. more...

Life in the trenches

Life in the trenches

The daily tasks of life went on despite the hellish conditions of the Western Front trenches. more...