Archive for January, 2012
Artefact of the Week: Civilian Respirator
Monday, January 30th, 2012
Respirator or gasmask given to civilians in Britain during World War II
This week’s museum artefact is a civilian respirator or gasmask. This one was issued to a civilian who was living in England during World War II. The mask is made from a light weight rubber and is attached to a canister that filtered out gas when the respirator was worn. These sorts of respirators were issued to all civilians in Britain during the conflict and this object serves to remind us of the strain placed on that island nation as it stood against the Nazi war machine. Not only was there the threat of invasion and the constant bombing from the Nazi air force, but there was also the terrifying possibility of chemical weapons being used on defenceless civilians.
Find out about our other museum artefacts and recent acquisitions.
Tags: artefact of the week
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Artefact of the Week: Coca Cola Bottle
Tuesday, January 24th, 2012
Coca Cola bottle dating back to World War II
This week’s museum artefact is an empty Coca Cola bottle recently donated and dates from World War II. During World War II the beverage company made a pledge to supply United States forces with its soft drink wherever it might be serving. During the conflict Coca Cola set up 64 bottling plants as the fighting moved through Europe and the Pacific, which resulted in over five billion bottles of Coca Cola being consumed by military personnel. This effort to supply troops around the globe with the drink was also a brilliant business move and helped the company grow massively post war and become the iconic brand it is today.
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New Zealand War Horses
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012
Soldiers on horseback travel across pontoon bridge
With the spotlight on war horses at the moment with the recent release of Spielberg’s latest movie, “War Horse”, the National Army Museum is focusing some attention to New Zealand war horses.
The new film chronicles the story of a horse serving in World War I’s Western Front and sheds some deserving light on the courage and sacrifice of animals during that conflict.
Horses were the unsung hereos of World War I and instrumental in keeping the army operating. Horses served as mounts for the Mounted Rifle Brigade, provided logistical support for the army as a whole, and their companionship increased morale amongst the soldiers.
Tags: World War I
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A Remarkable Reunion
Thursday, January 12th, 2012
New Zealander Barry Deed from Tauranga recently witnessed a truly remarkable incident when visiting the Normandy landing beaches on an overseas trip. Mr Deed retold the story to the staff of the National Army Museum during his Christmas time visit.
Two World War II veterans and comrades were remarkably reunited in October last year, more than 67 years since they had stormed the Normandy landing beaches on D Day and one had left the other for dead.
Bill Betts and Clifford Baker were amongst the first ashore that day having spent the two previous years training together as radio operators whose role it was to send radio messages from the advancing frontline, to Allied guns so they wouldn’t shell their own troops.
On D Day, Bill was hit by enemy fire and the last time Clifford saw him he was lying wounded on the beach telling everyone else to keep going.
Miraculously both men visited the same D Day museum at Arromanches on the same day, with Clifford signing the museum’s visitor’s book just 20 minutes after Bill and recognised his name.
See a video clip and read the story.
Tags: World War II
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Artefact of the Week: Florence Nightingale Medal
Thursday, January 12th, 2012
Museum Artefact - Florence Nightingale Medal
This week’s museum artefact is the Florence Nightingale Medal. This medal was awarded to Mrs Megan Crisp of the Queen Elizabeth’s Colonial Nursing Service, 1951-56. Mrs Crisp served in Malaya. The medal instituted on 16 May 1912 was bestowed on nurses who distinguished themselves by special devotion to, and nursing of, the sick and wounded in war and peace.
Find out about our other museum artefacts and recent acquisitions.
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