1902 - 1919 Imperial Training & World War I
7 June 1917
Western Front - At 1510 hours on 7 June 1917 the New Zealand Division went over the top at Messines and, in two days of fighting, took all of its initial objectives. The battle continued until 30 June 1917.
D-Day, 6 June 1944
Normandy Landings, 1944. D-Day, in June 1944 thousands of Kiwis were based in the UK, serving in the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. Many of these men were part of the events of June 6. On 6 June 1944 the greatest amphibious assault to that date took place on the beaches of Normandy, in France. This gigantic operation marked the opening of a new front. It came at a time when Germany's fortunes were beginning to wane. On 4 June 1944, Rome had fallen to Allied forces, including 2 NZ Division, which had been pushing up the Italian peninsula since the previous September. Although no NZ army units took part in the D-Day invasion, nearly 10,000 NZer's took part in Operation Overlord as members of the Royal Nay, the Merchant Navy, and the RAF.
Some well-known New Zealanders at D-Day
- Arthur Coningham: Air Vice-Marshal Arthur Coningham commanded the 2nd Tactical Air Force, which provided close air support to the invasion force. One of his squadrons, 487, spent the months before D-Day blasting enemy airfields with its fast Mosquitoes.
- Denis Glover: Poet, journalist Denis Glover was a landing craft commander in the Royal Navy during D-Day.
- James Hargest: Brigadier James Hargest was a senior 2NZEF officer who was present as an official NZ observer with the British 50th Division on D-Day
- Lawrence Hogben: Serving in the Royal Navy, Auckland-born Rhodes Scholar Lieutenant Commander Lawrence Hogben, was right at the heart of the invasion decision-making as a member of the Admiralty meteorological team whose weather forecast played a crucial role in the timing of the onslaught.
United Nations World Hydrography Day - 21 June
United Nations World Hydrography Day, which is to be celebrated annually on 21 June.
The aim of World Hydrography Day is to raise public awareness of the important work of increasing coverage of hydrographic information across the globe, and to urge all countries to work with respective hydrographic organisations to promote safe navigation.
This vital work contributes to the safety of life at sea, efficient commercial trade and protection of the maritime environment.
HMNZS RESOLUTION. Accurate charts are essential for safe navigation both on the open sea and on inshore waters. As the Royal New Zealand Navy's (RNZN) principal survey and research ship, RESOLUTION is used to survey and chart the waters in and around New Zealand and the Pacific.
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