Argentina invades Falklands, 2 April 1982
Argentina invaded the British territory of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic. The islands, off the coast of Argentina, have been a cause of friction between the two countries since Britain claimed them in 1833. For more information on Falklands
HMNZ Ships Canterbury and Waikato were two New Zealand frigates that provided operational support to the Royal Navy in 1982 and 1983. When the Falklands war broke out in April 1982, New Zealand offered to relieve a Royal Navy ship on operational duties in the Indian Ocean, so that its ships could be available for operations in the South Atlantic.
The day Saddam's statue fell, 9 April 2003
Iraq's most famous statue of Saddam Hussein came crashing down in Paradise Square. It was an image that was beamed around the world, a moment of liberation.
Under a UN Resolution, New Zealand sent a Light Engineer Group to help with the reconstruction of Iraq from Sep 2003 - Sep 2004.
The Light Engineer Group consisted of military engineers and logistic support staff totalling 61 personnel. They worked alongside the UK forces in Southeastern Iraq in the repair and refurbishment of hospitals, health clinics, schools, police stations, law courts, and municipal and government buildings. In addition, they assist in restoring electricity, and the rebuilding of bridges and water pipelines and the provision of humanitarian assistance to the local population in the form of operation of town supply reverse osmosis water plants.
Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow, Easter weekend
For three days over Easter, Lake Wanaka becomes centre stage for an extravaganza of aerial action. Famous warbirds join forces with vintage aircraft and moderns jets of today. In action each year are aircraft from the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
For more information visit www.warbirdsoverwanaka.co.nz
Evacuation of Greece, 24 April 1941
24 April 2006 marks the 65th anniversary of the Second World War military evacuation of Greece and is followed closely a month later by the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Crete. For the NZ Army these two campaigns resulted in the tragedy of 932 New Zealanders killed, 1,354 wounded, and 4,036 taken prisoner. For a month this is second only to the Battle of the Somme in scale of New Zealand casualties.
Gallipoli, 25 April 1915 (Anzac Day)
Significance of Anzac Day. On 25 April 1915, eight months into the First World War, Allied soldiers landed on the shores of the Gallipoli peninsula. After 260 days: 8,556 New Zealanders had landed; 4,852 were wounded and 2,721 killed. The troops were part of a plan to open the Dardanelles Strait to the Allied fleets and it was hoped to force a Turkish Surrender.
The forces from New Zealand and Australia, fighting as part of the ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), played an important part in the Gallipoli campaign.
The Gallipoli campaign was, however, a costly failure for the Allies, who after nine months abandoned it and evacuated their surviving troops. A third of the New Zealanders taking part had been killed.
Although Anzac Day, the anniversary of the first day of conflict, does not mark a military triumph, it does remind us of a very important episode in New Zealand's history. Great suffering was caused to a small country by the loss of so many of its young men. But the Gallipoli campaign showcased attitudes and attributes - bravery, tenacity, practicality, ingenuity, loyalty to King and comrades - that helped New Zealand define itself as a nation, even as it fought unquestioningly on the other side of the world in the name of the British Empire.
After Gallipoli, NZ had a greater confidence in its distinct identity, and a greater pride in the international contribution it could make.
There are several excellent websites that bring together helpful resources for students and interested persons. We recommend:
Poppy Day
For over 80 years Poppy Day has been an annual event usually held on the Friday before Anzac Day. It is the most important fundraising appeal of the year for RSA (Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association). On Poppy Day RSA volunteers and military personnel throughout New Zealand offer red poppy buttonholes in exchange for donations to the RSA Welfare Fund.
For more information about Poppy Day visit www.rsa.org.nz/remem/poppy_intro.html
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