When we were together: First World War soldiers and their families

A DigitalNZ Story by Amy Watling

For New Zealanders, it was a long way to war in the early 20th century. This was both a good and a bad thing for the people that they left behind. Many soldiers visited a photography studio to capture the moment for themselves and their families. I find the portraits that the soldier's had taken with their young families (either in a studio or at home) the most touching. They say to me; "Here's when we were all together." A fantastic project to help identify soldiers and their families is being run my Te Papa Tongarewa - The Berry Boys http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/topic/648.

Image: Studio family portrait, unidentified older couple with adult family and grandchildren, with one man in soldier's uniform, Christchurch

Studio family portrait, unidentified older couple with adult family and grandchildren, with one man in soldier's uniform, Christchurch

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Studio unidentified family portrait, World War I soldier with large moustache and collar badges, with wife, three young daughters and young son in soldier's jacket and shorts, Christchurch

Studio unidentified family portrait, World War I soldier with large moustache and collar badges, with wife, three young daughters and young son in ...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Studio upper torso unidentified family portrait, a Sergeant World War I soldier with collar and hat badges sitting with young son in soldier's uniform with hat and badge, and wife with flowers, Christchurch

Studio upper torso unidentified family portrait, a Sergeant World War I soldier with collar and hat badges sitting with young son in soldier's unif...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Studio unidentified family portrait, a World War I soldier with moustache, collar and hat badges, sitting alongside wife with pearl necklace and pearl shirt buttons, Christchurch

Studio unidentified family portrait, a World War I soldier with moustache, collar and hat badges, sitting alongside wife with pearl necklace and pe...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Sir Robert Walker and son

Sir Robert Walker and son

Auckland Libraries

Image: Family portrait on grass hillside, unidentified parents with their two older sons and two daughters, and three young sons, father in soldier's uniform, probably Christchurch region

Family portrait on grass hillside, unidentified parents with their two older sons and two daughters, and three young sons, father in soldier's unif...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Studio unidentified family portrait, World War I Lance Corporal soldier with star collar [Army Service Corps?] and hat badges [Reinforcements?], with wife, young son and daughter, Christchurch

Studio unidentified family portrait, World War I Lance Corporal soldier with star collar [Army Service Corps?] and hat badges [Reinforcements?], wi...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Studio unidentified family portrait, father in soldier's uniform with stirrups and mother with baby girl on knee next to older sons and daughters, Christchurch

Studio unidentified family portrait, father in soldier's uniform with stirrups and mother with baby girl on knee next to older sons and daughters, ...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Outdoors on a veranda of a wooden house, a farewell between an unidentified elderly mother with her older World War I Corporal Soldier son carrying his coat and kit bag, probably Christchurch region

Outdoors on a veranda of a wooden house, a farewell between an unidentified elderly mother with her older World War I Corporal Soldier son carrying...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Studio unidentified family portrait of older mother sitting in a dark lace blouse and dress next to her young adult son in World War I soldier's uniform with bandolier and waist ammunition belts, collar badges and white shoulder pocket cord standing, Christchurch

Studio unidentified family portrait of older mother sitting in a dark lace blouse and dress next to her young adult son in World War I soldier's un...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: James Hall Boyd, Mary Louisa Boyd and James Robert Boyd

James Hall Boyd, Mary Louisa Boyd and James Robert Boyd

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Thomas Christopher Gollins, Grace Caroline Gollins and Graham Thomas Gollins

Thomas Christopher Gollins, Grace Caroline Gollins and Graham Thomas Gollins

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Massam family

Massam family

Auckland Libraries

Image: Studio upper torso portrait of unidentified young WWI soldier with collar badges and black cord on left shoulder, standing with a young woman with brooch [sister, wife?], Christchurch

Studio upper torso portrait of unidentified young WWI soldier with collar badges and black cord on left shoulder, standing with a young woman with ...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Studio unidentified family portrait, elderly parents with younger WWI soldier son with stirrups and older son with striped tie and greenstone watch chain pendant, Christchurch

Studio unidentified family portrait, elderly parents with younger WWI soldier son with stirrups and older son with striped tie and greenstone watch...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Family unidentified portrait, front room of house with bay windows, a World War soldier with collar badges and sleeve insignia holding baby with wife looking on, probably Christchurch region

Family unidentified portrait, front room of house with bay windows, a World War soldier with collar badges and sleeve insignia holding baby with wi...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Studio portrait of unidentified soldier in uniform with his wife, probably Christchurch district

Studio portrait of unidentified soldier in uniform with his wife, probably Christchurch district

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Unidentified family portrait within home, a World War I soldier with collar badges with shoulder and waist belts, wife and baby, probably Christchurch region

Unidentified family portrait within home, a World War I soldier with collar badges with shoulder and waist belts, wife and baby, probably Christchu...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Studio unidentified family portrait, a Lance Corporal World War I soldier with native bird collar and hat badges and sleeve gun insignia, and wife with portrait and bird brooches, hat, gloves, handbag and bracelets, Christchurch

Studio unidentified family portrait, a Lance Corporal World War I soldier with native bird collar and hat badges and sleeve gun insignia, and wife ...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Chaplain Captain Leslie Bourneman Neale, 1917

Chaplain Captain Leslie Bourneman Neale, 1917

Auckland Libraries

Image: Charles Henry Faulkner and his wife Edith Faulkner, with their children Edwin and baby Eslet

Charles Henry Faulkner and his wife Edith Faulkner, with their children Edwin and baby Eslet

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Bray Family, 1916

Bray Family, 1916

Auckland Libraries

Image: Private Matuschka or Mutuschka and a woman and girl, 1916

Private Matuschka or Mutuschka and a woman and girl, 1916

Auckland Libraries

Image: Adolph Goldfinch and family

Adolph Goldfinch and family

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Harold Pilkington and an unidentified woman

Harold Pilkington and an unidentified woman

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Mary and Arthur Scambary

Mary and Arthur Scambary

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Richard Battersby and Gladys Battersby

Richard Battersby and Gladys Battersby

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Wedding portrait of Edmund Colin Nigel Robinson and Mary Read

Wedding portrait of Edmund Colin Nigel Robinson and Mary Read

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Herbert James Freeman with Marguerita Freeman and baby Zena

Herbert James Freeman with Marguerita Freeman and baby Zena

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Family unidentified portrait in front of wooden house, father in soldier's uniform sitting with toddler daughter, mother with necklace standing with older two daughters, probably Christchurch region

Family unidentified portrait in front of wooden house, father in soldier's uniform sitting with toddler daughter, mother with necklace standing wit...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Studio unidentified family portrait, a World War I soldier with [Tui or Huia?] collar badges and wife with portrait necklace, alongside young daughters, Christchurch

Studio unidentified family portrait, a World War I soldier with [Tui or Huia?] collar badges and wife with portrait necklace, alongside young daugh...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Herbert, William and Frederick Costello

Herbert, William and Frederick Costello

Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Image: Studio unidentified family portrait, a World War I soldier with moustache, collar and hat badges, standing with two sons in military style uniforms and hats alongside their mother sitting, Christchurch

Studio unidentified family portrait, a World War I soldier with moustache, collar and hat badges, standing with two sons in military style uniforms...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Studio unidentified family portrait of older mother standing in a dark lace blouse and dress next to her young adult son in World War I soldier's uniform with bandolier and waist ammunition belts, collar badges and white shoulder pocket cord sitting, Christchurch

Studio unidentified family portrait of older mother standing in a dark lace blouse and dress next to her young adult son in World War I soldier's u...

Alexander Turnbull Library

Image: Rifleman Frederick Keith Soppet, 1916

Rifleman Frederick Keith Soppet, 1916

Auckland Libraries

Image: Private Rudolph Baeyertz and a woman, 1917

Private Rudolph Baeyertz and a woman, 1917

Auckland Libraries

Image: Gunner Jeffries, 1917

Gunner Jeffries, 1917

Auckland Libraries