Te Papa Museum - The Gallipoli Exhibition

The tale of the involvement of New Zealand in World War 1 started the moment we walked through the first room where a life like reproduction of Spencer Westmacott was lying in the grass firing at the enemy. The reproductions were so realistic we were waiting for them to move. Going further through the exhibit more and more facts and information filtered through our minds as we eagerly read all the information. The one fact that stayed with me was the amount of soldier killed or wounded in the war. Only previously knowing about the Australian soldiers, it was interesting to learn that 93% of the New Zealand soldiers were killed or wounded compared to 53% of the Australian soldiers. Each section of the exhibition showed different sections of the war like the weapons, different jobs and roles available and how the Turks and ANZACs attacked. Towards the end of the exhibition we were able to write a message on a poppy, this was a chance for people to be able to remember those lost at war or write a message of hope. The girls took this chance to write a small message in remembrance of those who fought.

                                                                                                                                     Rachel