Media: BOOK - hardcover 544 pages
Author: P. Henson & L. Kernohan
Year: 2015

Printed in full colour throughout with hundreds of illustrations

A timely account of over 150 lives—and a fitting memento of the contribution made by the families of the Taupo District in the making of the history of The Great War, one hundred years ago. Over 150 individual stories told: researched by Peter Henson, Lauren Kernohan and Colonel (Retired) Raymond J. Seymour M.B.E., J.P. from actual New Zealand Expeditionary Force military diaries, and many personal contributions of photographs, letters, and contemporary documents.

A handsome 544-page hard-cover volume, richly illustrated with full-colour throughout — a real treasury of intimate local history that you will enjoy dipping into repeatedly and sharing with your family and friends.

From the Mayor of Taupo

It is with pleasure I introduce this book to you. It is a real privilege to be able to open for a book that is so important for the Taupo District. It recognises the efforts of those men and women with ties to our district who fought in World War One, some of whom never returned.
To document these stories in a book is both crucial and fitting on the eve of the centenary commemorations.

The service men and women of WWI shaped our district’s future. There are so many stories to be told and it is an honour to commemorate those who played important parts in such a memorable and in many ways tragic part of our nation’s history.

New Zealand came together as a country during WWI, and the Taupo District was no exception to this. Taupo District was fairly remote in 1914 but it certainly contributed its fair share of men and women to the war effort. I have the utmost respect for our fallen soldiers and those who put their lives on the line.

It has been 100 years since our troops landed at Anzac Cove in Gallipoli and therefore about 100 years since many Taupo District residents left their homes and signed up to join the New Zealand war effort. Many never returned. It’s amazing to think it has been such a long time since that day we will always remember.

This book contains unique stories unlikely to have been told before. It’s not just about the military stories, but also what people left behind, where they came from and who they were. Some were highly decorated, others were lesser known, but all had links to our district and all fought in the Great War, and we remember them.