First World War

Auckland Regiment, Gallipoli 25th April 1915.
Auckland Regiment, Gallipoli 25th April 1915.
 

New Zealand's naval contribution to the First World War took many forms but the total numbers of New Zealanders serving in the Royal Navy never exceeded 500 but those men became involved in almost every aspect of the naval war.  About 200 joined the Royal Naval Motor Boat Reserve in 1916, some were already Royal Naval Reserves, while others with the requisite experience joined at this time.  Some joined the Royal Navy as individual recruits, serving in all types of vessels from battleships to submarines.  A number of men joined the Royal Naval Air Service flying over the Western Front.  Some women joined the Women's Royal Naval Service, known as the WRENS, when it was formed in 1917.  The Union Steam Ship Company's vessel SS WAHINE was commissioned by the Admiralty and used as a despatch vessel at Gallipoli, before working as a minelayer in the North Sea.

The museum has a collection of oral histories relating to the First World War

German Raiders

Troopships and Hospital Ships

HMS New Zealand at the Battle of Jutland

This is the introduction for this page.

Anzac Day April 25th 1915

New Zealand in the Naval War 1914-1918

From Admiralty to Navy Wellington 11/11/18 Now that the last and most formidable of our enemies has acknowledged that triumph of the Allied Fleet and troops on behalf of right and justice I wish to express my praise and thankfulness to the...

Lieutenant Commander William Sanders RNR

Lieutenant-Commander FrankWorsley, RNR DSO & Bar OBE MiD

HMS PHILOMEL

Captain Charles Henry Tarr Palmer OBE

ANZAC Day remembers service men and women who gave their lives serving their country.

Our national heroes from WW1 are remembered each year on April 25 during ANZAC Day celebrations.

HMS PHILOMEL at Gisborne, 20th February 1914.

HMS PHILOMEL at Gisborne, 20th February 1914.

Anzac Cove, Gallipoli.
The landings at Gallipoli were originally scheduled to take place on 23 April 1915, but weather conditions led to a delay of two days. The first ashore were to be the ANZACs. They would come ashore on a 2700 metre front. The force would have struggled to achieve it's objectives even if all had gone well, but the Australian spearhead was mistakenly directed about two kilometres north of the envisaged landing place. The troops found themselves facing far more formidable terrain than the planned landing place.