After Armistice: dealing with the effects of war

The Team from Auckland Museum

As we commemorate the 101st Armistice Day, it's timely that we reflect on the aftermath of the First World War; not only the massive scale of loss, but also the ongoing suffering experienced by those who returned from the first industrialised war.

Arriving in back in Wellington, Colonel Evans pointedly reminded the soldiers of those left behind: “Remember,” he said, “When you go ashore you are not heroes. The heroes lie in France”. Having lost their comrades in the thousands, the soldiers hardly needed to be reminded of their 'luck' in making it through. Yet for those who survived, the physical and mental toll of the war was immense and for many unspeakable. Each service person confronted the psychological and emotional impact of a war unprecedented in its violence in their own personal way.

One soldier who suffered through his war service was Private Ivor Norman (Norm) Fleet 31249. A bushman who enlisted in Taumarunui, Fleet fought with the Wellington Infantry Regiment and received gunshot wounds to both legs during a clean-up operation at Bellevue Spur on 22 October 1917. His right leg was later amputated and he eventually returned to New Zealand where simply carried on with his life, marrying Elsie Petley in 1928, building his own house and forging a long and productive career. Norm rarely spoke of the war and relatives only recall seeing him in tears as his nephews left for the Second World War; a small clue to the pain that returned servicemen held inside. Like Norm, millions suffered silently in the aftermath. Today we honour their service and acknowledge the immeasurable suffering that came from it.

Lest we forget.

Find out more about Armistice Day and the Museum's collections here. www.aucklandmuseum.com...