NZGary
Command Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2015
- Messages
- 2,048
Well ANZAC day is fast approaching in New Zealand. And while much of the attention will be on our cousins from across the Tasman lets hope little NZ does not get overshadowed. New Zealand contributed more soldiers per head of population than just about any other country involved. The impact on a small population in this far flung corner of the world was devastating not least the fact that many women remained unmarried as there were not enough men to go around. Women also started to do work that was more traditionally the role of men.
One such occupation was auditing. The New Zealand Audit Office in 1913 had around 60 staff with men undertaking all the auditing functions and women in support roles. During WW1 over 30 men from the office were called up (6 not returning). Women by necessity became auditors. Imagine that these days over 50% of the organisation you work in being called to war.
So what does this have to do with toy soldiers? Well we decided to produce a book (only 30 copies made and none for sale). The book tells the story of what the audit office was like before the war and then goes through the service lives of those who served in WW1 - and where possible what happened to them after the war. It is well known in the office my passion for toy soldiers. We decided to illustrate the book with pictures from my collection of WW1 ANZAC figures (with a little help from Regal Enterprises). This gave the book a different perspective and feel as all WW1 photos are in black and white. Our book is in colour.
We published last August (the anniversary of the start of WW1). We had a ceremony where we invited known relatives of those who had served and presented them with a copy of the book. I got one copy of the book and the rest are in our main offices throughout NZ.
It got NZ publication of the month when it was launched, was featured in Toy Soldier Collector and Sierra Toy Soldiers newsletter. I had great fun setting up the photo shoot and have felt honoured to be part of such a project. It also got our hobby out to a wider audience.
I attach the link and I invite you to have a look at the book and the lives of the men that served on our website.
http://www.oag.govt.nz/
Gary
One such occupation was auditing. The New Zealand Audit Office in 1913 had around 60 staff with men undertaking all the auditing functions and women in support roles. During WW1 over 30 men from the office were called up (6 not returning). Women by necessity became auditors. Imagine that these days over 50% of the organisation you work in being called to war.
So what does this have to do with toy soldiers? Well we decided to produce a book (only 30 copies made and none for sale). The book tells the story of what the audit office was like before the war and then goes through the service lives of those who served in WW1 - and where possible what happened to them after the war. It is well known in the office my passion for toy soldiers. We decided to illustrate the book with pictures from my collection of WW1 ANZAC figures (with a little help from Regal Enterprises). This gave the book a different perspective and feel as all WW1 photos are in black and white. Our book is in colour.
We published last August (the anniversary of the start of WW1). We had a ceremony where we invited known relatives of those who had served and presented them with a copy of the book. I got one copy of the book and the rest are in our main offices throughout NZ.
It got NZ publication of the month when it was launched, was featured in Toy Soldier Collector and Sierra Toy Soldiers newsletter. I had great fun setting up the photo shoot and have felt honoured to be part of such a project. It also got our hobby out to a wider audience.
I attach the link and I invite you to have a look at the book and the lives of the men that served on our website.
http://www.oag.govt.nz/
Gary
