A quiet churchyard in the village of Brockenhurst, near Southampton in the United Kingdom, is the final resting place of young soldiers from Aotearoa New Zealand.
Buried thousands of miles from their homeland, these men of both European and Māori ancestry served during the First World War and fought on the battlefields of northern France. After being wounded in action or weakened by illness, they were transported to the New Zealand No. 1 General Hospital at Brockenhurst for treatment and recovery.
Despite the dedicated efforts of the hospital’s doctors, nurses, and support staff, many did not survive. Far from home and their loved ones, they made the ultimate sacrifice in service.
Today, their memory is honoured each year on ANZAC Day by communities in both Aotearoa New Zealand and Brockenhurst.
This curated collection commemorates their lives by digitally reconnecting them with the places where they were born, lived, and grew up, celebrating the communities, landscapes, and memories that shaped them before war carried them far from home.
Find these stories by clicking on the Theme drop-down list and selecting relevant theme to filter story waypoints on globe.
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