Rotorua remembers the Great War

Luke Martin with his great-uncle's bugle that went to Gallipoli and to the battlefields of Europe, during World War I. Photo/Stephen Parker

A collection of World War I treasures have gone on display at the Rotorua Museum to mark the beginning of the "war to end all wars".

Also known as the Great War, World War I began on July 28, 1914 and lasted until November 11, 1918.

To mark the occasion the Rotorua Museum has put together an exhibition Great War Stories - Rotorua remembers World War I featuring medals and memorabilia collected from Rotorua locals.

Exhibition curator Chris Rapley said the exhibition opened yesterday and told some of the many powerful and diverse stories from the Great War through objects and memories contributed by the Rotorua community.

"Great War Stories was a true community-based display which would not have been possible without the people of Rotorua," Mr Rapley said.

"The community has been incredibly generous loaning objects and sharing their stories for this exhibition."

The exhibition was part of New Zealand's 100-year commemorations of World War I and Great War Stories reflects on the sacrifices made by New Zealanders during the conflict.

"From 1914-1918 World War I saw the death of millions and left the world a radically different place.

" Its impacts rippled throughout communities and across generations.

"Six out of every 10 New Zealanders who went to war died or were wounded and over the four years of the war 18,000 New Zealanders lost their lives and a further 42,000 were wounded at such infamous battles as Gallipoli, Passchendaele and on the Western Front," Mr Rapley said.

Great War Stories is on at Rotorua Museum until November 2. Entry is included with museum admission.

Entry for Rotorua residents is free with appropriate identification.