WIFTNZ member Anna Cottrell's fourth series of Great War Stories will screen on national TV for a week from April 19, 2017.
The short documentaries focus on the lesser-known, personal stories of Kiwis during World War I, and will screen before the sports bulletin (approximately 6.30pm) during the nightly Newshub news programme. Narrated by Mike McRoberts, the seven stories feature people such as:
- Sun 23: Rizk Alexander, who came to New Zealand from the Mt Lebanon area of what was Syria. How a teenage 'enemy alien' managed to fight for the Allies and be decorated is an intriguing story.
- Tues 25: Dr Jessie Scott, a Cantabrian who set up camp on the Balkan front, where she was decorated for her war work. She was captured by the Austrians and was a Prisoner of War for a short time. Once she was released, she served on the Russian front.
- Wed 19: A group of Niueans who, with only a day's warning, were taken from their island home to fight on the Western Front. They were unused to the weighty uniforms, languages and diseases they faced.
Also, on TVNZ 1 at 9am on Anzac Day (April 25), Anna's documentary Children of Gallipoli will be broadcast. It is the story of two young New Zealanders who meet two young Turks, whose ancestors all fought in that tragic 1915 Gallipoli campaign.
Keep an eye out for Anna's great work! (You can also view the first three series of Great War Stories on the Ministry of Culture and Heritage's NZHistory website.)