First World War, 4 August 1914
Start of the First World War and on 29 August 1914 NZ troops occupied Samoa.
Gallipoli, 8 August 1915
Chunuk Bair - On 8 August 1915 the Wellington Battalion captured the hill of Chunuk Bair and for the first and only time in the campaign Allied troops could see their original objective – the Dardanelles. After hours of what can only be described as heroic fighting, the Wellingtons were driven off by massive Turkish counter-attacks and suffered appalling losses.
VJ Day Day, 15 August 1945
Air Vice-Marshal Isitt signs for New Zealand on board battleship USS Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945.
August 15 2005 marked 60 years since the Allies announced the surrender of the Japanese Forces during World War II.
Japan had surrendered to the Allies after almost six years of war and on 2 September 1945 Japanese officials signed the act of unconditional surrender in the presence of 50 Allied generals on board USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The Supreme Commander of the Allied powers, US General Douglas MacArthur, briefly addressed the dignitaries on the deck of the battleship urging them to comply with the terms of the surrender "fully, promptly and faithfully".
VJ Day in New Zealand, 15 August 1945
The news of the Japanese surrender arrived in New Zealand at 11am on 15 August. Like VE Day there were parades, a national ceremony, local celebrations around the country, beer flowed and there were dancing in the streets.
In Auckland the city forgot its reserve and unashamedly went out and enjoyed itself. NZ Herald, 16 August 1945.
VJ Day (Pacific) Tour 2005
Victory over Japan (VJ) Day 15 August 2005 marked the 60 years since the Allies announced the surrender of Japanese forces during World War II. The event was commemorated around New Zealand in wreath-laying ceremonies in Auckland's Hall of memories and at the National War memorial in Wellington.
In addition a contingent of New Zealand veterans representing the units of all three services revisited the scenes of some of the struggles when they traveled onboard a RNZAF Boeing 757 to New Caledonia and the Solomon Islands over 12-15 August 2005.
80 veterans, VIPs and 70 Defence Force personnel attended a number of services in Noumea, Bourail and Honiara. Hon George Hawkins, Minister of Veteran Affairs accompanied the veterans including a NZDF Kapa Haka (Maori Cultural Group), guard and medical staff.
The Pacific tour ended when veterans paraded through the streets of Wellington in WWII vintage vehicles to Wellington Cathedral lead by a 100 man Tri-Service Guard and band.
NZ also contributed to Australia VJ Day activities.
Media release: Veterans and Defence personnel parade through...
Veteran Affairs website
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