The event of the First World War had a vast impact on New Zealand's society. Families and communities all over New Zealand were heavily impacted by the event of the First World War. From a population of just over one million, over 120,000 young New Zealand men were enlisted and 103,000 New Zealanders served overseas. This was of impact to the New Zealand society as the absence of these young men during the course of the war exerted influence on families, women, communities as well as the work force.
A significant impact that World War 1 had on New Zealand society was in terms of the loss of lives as a result to the great war. Many families had been affected by losing the people closest to them who were killed in action. As a nation, many New Zealander's had to come to terms with the deaths of their loved ones who fought in the great war. Around 18,500 New Zealanders died in or because of the war. This was of a negative impact to the families as most of them felt the time they had spent with their loved ones wasn't long enough as majority of the soldiers were of a young age and the loss of a loved one was unquestionably a devastating experience to have to go through.
A significant impact that World War 1 had on New Zealand society was in terms of the loss of lives as a result to the great war. Many families had been affected by losing the people closest to them who were killed in action. As a nation, many New Zealander's had to come to terms with the deaths of their loved ones who fought in the great war. Around 18,500 New Zealanders died in or because of the war. This was of a negative impact to the families as most of them felt the time they had spent with their loved ones wasn't long enough as majority of the soldiers were of a young age and the loss of a loved one was unquestionably a devastating experience to have to go through.
WOMEN IN WW1
Women as part of the New Zealand society were impacted by the first world war. This could be seen as a positive impact on the women's place in New Zealand society as during the course of the first world war, women gained more importance among the community. The time period of the great war gave women an opportunity to prove their worthy in this male-dominated society, as they did more than just cleaning the house and looking after the children during this time. Due to the large amount of young fit men going off to war, there was a gap in the employment field which women had to fill and therefore they carried out a number of jobs and tasks which would normally be assigned to men.
World War 1 developed numerous opportunities for women which still positively impact the women of New Zealand society today. By 1917 68% of women had changed jobs since the war began, 16% had moved out of domestic services, 22% that were unemployed in 1914 now had a job and 23% had changed factories (from one factory to another) , overall more women had better jobs. Some of the roles women carried out during this time period was of: nurses, munition factory workers, sewing bandages, selling warbonds, shipyards and spies. The Women's Royal Air Force was also created during this time where women worked on planes as mechanics.
A factory manager had quoted, "Women were seen as quick learners and that in some departments they are moer efficient than men, although those departments have been employing men exclusively for years." This shows how the event of the war was of impact on the women of New Zealand as their opportunities grew during this time and they were seen at their full potential and capability.Women working in high ranking jobs in society marked a new era for New Zealand women as prior to the war their abilities were underestimated by a range of stereotypes.
Women as part of the New Zealand society were impacted by the first world war. This could be seen as a positive impact on the women's place in New Zealand society as during the course of the first world war, women gained more importance among the community. The time period of the great war gave women an opportunity to prove their worthy in this male-dominated society, as they did more than just cleaning the house and looking after the children during this time. Due to the large amount of young fit men going off to war, there was a gap in the employment field which women had to fill and therefore they carried out a number of jobs and tasks which would normally be assigned to men.
World War 1 developed numerous opportunities for women which still positively impact the women of New Zealand society today. By 1917 68% of women had changed jobs since the war began, 16% had moved out of domestic services, 22% that were unemployed in 1914 now had a job and 23% had changed factories (from one factory to another) , overall more women had better jobs. Some of the roles women carried out during this time period was of: nurses, munition factory workers, sewing bandages, selling warbonds, shipyards and spies. The Women's Royal Air Force was also created during this time where women worked on planes as mechanics.
A factory manager had quoted, "Women were seen as quick learners and that in some departments they are moer efficient than men, although those departments have been employing men exclusively for years." This shows how the event of the war was of impact on the women of New Zealand as their opportunities grew during this time and they were seen at their full potential and capability.Women working in high ranking jobs in society marked a new era for New Zealand women as prior to the war their abilities were underestimated by a range of stereotypes.
ECONOMY
New Zealand being a young, developing nation relied on the British Empire to keep the economy running. The act of serving in the war was the most crucial action New Zealand took as the nation was built on the Brithish Empire's wealth and therefore keeping an alliance with them was essential so the act of serving in the war benefitted in keeping the bond between the two nations. Despite the fact that WW1 was an unpleasant event, it brought about a number of oppurtunities for the New Zealand society and contributed in the development of the nation. During the great war, exports were being delivered to the war zones so revenue was still being received by those working in New Zealand.
IMPACT ON FAMILIES
Families were strongly impacted by World War 1 due to the fact that a vast majority of the men were sent off to serve in the war. This meant that women
were left to take full responsibility of their family as fathers and brothers were enlisted in the war. Men who were killed in the war impacted families as
the loss of their loved ones left an empty place in their families and women were therefore left as the holding blocks of the family. If the men had survived and returned, they were often psychologically impacted to an extent at which they were unable to function normally and therefore unable to fit into society or retain the bond they had with their fanily before they left. Due to this families were broken and unable to adequately function any longer. Men were
relied on to work and support the family but due to the scarring caused from the experiences at war, they were unable to work
ANZAC DAY
In today's society we as New Zealander's commemorate all New Zealanders killed in the war and also honour all the returned servicemen and women, who were all of a huge significance to New Zealand history. This commemoration is the public holiday known as ANZAC day, a national day of rememberance that commemorated those who served and died in the war.
ANZAC Day is an important date in New Zealand and for NZ society and is celebrated annually on the 25th of April. On this day New Zealanders remember the soldiers who died in the war as well as the families of them for the work and effort they had put into protecting the people of New Zealand, but most importantly the soldiers who served for the country during the great war. ANZAC Day was first marked in 1916 which shows that people are involved in remembering the soldiers who gave up their lives in the great war for quite some time now.
The day has gone through many changes since then. The ceremonies that are held at war memorials up and down New Zealand, or in places overseas where New Zealanders gather, remain rich in tradition and ritual befitting a military funeral. There is still a dawn service; war veterans and serving personnel continue to gather at memorials and in Returned Services' Association clubrooms; politicians and local dignitaries still attend ceremonies. Shops and hotels remain closed on Anzac Day morning.
Now, people remark on the number of young New Zealanders in the crowds. Some wear the medals their grandparents and great-grandparents won during war. There are now no veterans left from Gallipoli or the First World War. Bright Williams, who passed away in 2003, was the last, and the number of Second World War veterans becomes fewer each year.