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| Lest we forget - a familiar saying for most New Zealanders, a familiar feeling for most genealogists. In November, 2004, the New Zealand government brought back to our shores, the body of an unknown soldier. This soldier represented all those killed and buried on foreign soil while serving in New Zealand's armed forces. He is entombed at the National War Memorial in Wellington. Also at the War Memorial is the Hall of Memories (www.nationalwarmemorial.govt.nz/hall.html). In this hall are four Rolls of Honour, each inscribed with the names of fallen New Zealanders. What, may you ask, does this have to do with genealogy? Well, those fallen are somebody's relative. Maybe even yours. This page will hopefully help you find missing family members through military records. Military records can provide splendid details for genealogists, especially ages and places of birth, while they can also expand family histories with information about campaigns, conduct and even physical descriptions of ancestors.
General Information sources - books
How to trace your military ancestors in Australia and New Zealand, by R.H. Montague.
New Zealand military nursing : a history of the Royal New Zealand Nursing Corps, Boer War to present day , by Sherayl Kendall & David Corbett. (1990)
New Zealand and the Distinguished Service Order : being a record of New Zealanders and those associated with New Zealand, appointed as Companions of the Distinguished Service Order, compiled by J. Bryant Haigh & Alan J. Polaschek ; additional research and publication, John D. Wills ; additional research and photography, Brian P. Connor. (1993)
Service lives remembered : the Meritorious Service Medal in New Zealand and its recipients, 1895-1994 , by Howard E. Chamberlain. (1993) Other possible sources could be published regimental histories. If you're not sure of the name, do a keyword search for regimental histories zealand to see a list of the books.
MagazinesFamily Tree Magazine is a British publication that comes out on a monthly basis. It contains interesting and informative articles, book reviews, a computer section and feature regular articles on tracing family members through military records.The magazine also has a webpage with a very useful online searchable index. There is also a links page.
Online ResourcesCommonwealth War Graves CommissionThe "Debt of Honour Register" is the Commission's database listing the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died during the two world wars and the 23,000 cemeteries, memorials and other locations world-wide where they are commemorated. The register can also be searched for details of the 67,000 Commonwealth civilians who died as a result of enemy action in the Second World War." Information includes age, date of death, parents and parents' place of residence. New Zealand Defence Force "provides information on who is entitled to apply for information on medals and for details from the records of ex-Service personnel, how to apply, the conditions affecting an application, and lists the contact details for Personnel Archives." National Archives Archway Database As well as indicating what military records are held by Archives, also searches on probate records. Gives names and dates of the files, record numbers and where the files are kept.
New Zealand War Links
Public Records Office/National Archives of Britain
New Zealand's military history can be divided into three periods:
Imperial / Colonial - up to and including the Boer WarImperial regiments in New Zealand, 1856, 1862 & 1864 : Hart's army lists [microfiche]Lists used are for Officers of the Imperial Regiments that served in New Zealand during the Land Wars.
The Royal New Zealand Fencibles : a complete index compiled by Shirley E. Kendall.
New Zealand contingents to the South African (Boer) War 1900-1902-1903 [microfiche]
The Times history of the War in South Africa, 1899-1902, edited by L.S. Amery.
Dominion period - Two World WarsWorld War OneNew Zealand expeditionary forces nominal rolls, 1939-1948 [microfiche]First NZEF reserve & military defaulters - WW1 [microfiche] New Zealand Expeditionary Forces 1914-1918 [microfiche] The Great War, 1914-1918 : New Zealand Expeditionary Force roll of honour Roll of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force New Zealand World War I service personnel & reserves index [CD ROM] Military Board appeals, Otago Witness, Dec 1916 to Feb 1917, by M.J. Kelly. Lists appellant's name, occupation and area where they reside. Sometimes other family members are listed. Also try your local papers for similar board hearings. Chronicles of the N.Z.E.F. Book or [microfiche] June 30th 1916-July 25th 1917 is a bound volume of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces magazine. Lists of names include: Prisoners-of-war ; hospital reports (including name of hospital, conditions/injuries received, visited by) ; casualties ; promotions ; transfers ; departures.
World War TwoThe Official History of New Zealand in World War II is 27 volumes covering New Zealand's involvement in the 1939-1945 war, from the Western Front to Africa and the Pacific. They are available in either book form at Wellington City Libraries, or, electronically at the New Zealand Electronic Text Centre. The advantage of the electronic format is that they can be keyword searched.
Independent - Post WWII including Korean and Vietnamese WarsNew Zealand War Links has some links to Vietnam records.
Archives and RecordsArchives New Zealand offer a reference guide to the war information they hold (173kb, PDF).
Need more information?NZ Ministry for Culture and Heritage.Subjects covered include a history of the Musket and New Zealand Wars of the 19th Century, Anzac Day, the Gallipoli Campaign, the Battle for Crete, D-Day, the Italian Campaign, the South African (Boer) War, US Forces in New Zealand during the Second World War and the celebration of VE and VJ Days in New Zealand. There is also a specialist Anzac Day website, www.anzac.govt.nz. Cyndi's List, military section, may provide some pointers for overseas records. |
