As as guide continued with our tour around the exhibition the story of WW1 was escalating. Tanks were starting to make an impact. This photo shows British cavalry officers looking on as tanks were being readied for their first ever combat at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in 1916.
British tanks
Terrible conditions in a sea of mud
Complete devastation
Thankfully, there were moments of fun as the war raged on. This picture shows NZ troops opening the New Zealand Divisional Boxing Championship with a haka in France, July 1917.
Performing a haka
No words needed for this photo
Set into the floor under glass were several examples of soil collected from the battle sites. The soil in this particular box came from Longueval, on the Somme Battlefield. Although the toughened glass was made to be walked over, we noticed that most people gingerly tip-toed around the edges.
This is an amazing exhibition, and we somberly gazed at one set after another as they depicted the war; scene by scene; year by year. But perhaps it was the many historical photos on show which made the biggest impact on us, depicting as they did real men and real situations. Peter Jackson had stated that he wanted to show his exhibition in living colour, and each black and white photo had been painstakingly brought to life with colour.
Grand-dad remembering his comrades
3 comments:
Great posts!!!!! I have visited the exhibition several times, as well as the one at Te Papa, they are amazing. I am one of those who also tip-toe around the edges of the glass, but it is because it felt wrong to me to stepson stuff found at the battlefield where so many people died - I couldn't make myself step on it
Thank you Susan. Both exhibitions, this and the one at Te Papa are amazing and show the talents of our creative Kiwi geniuses in putting them together. Certainly well worth another look or two.
We too reverently stepped around the soil under the glass, and yes, the pictures are amazing particularly as one was of the day and the area where Roys father was wounded during the Paschendaele battle. We will be stepping onto the soil in Belgium later this year for the 100th commemorations. Lest we forget.
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