"Empire & Desire" exhibition opens

Ruapehu Bulletin, 13 August 1991, Page 10

"Empire & Desire" exhibition opens

BY

JO

HOWIE

A photographic exhibition, "Empire and Desire," was formally opened last Friday morning by a retired Army Officer, Mr Chris Pugsley. "He is the living expert on Gallipoli," said Major Clayton, director of the Queen Elizabeth H Army Memorial Museum director which has mounted the exhibition. A special guest at the opening was Mr Peter Ireland from the Alexander Turnbull Library.

At the opening a commemorative service was conducted by Rev Ron Cotton. All were then welcomed by Waiouru's commander, Colonel Clive Sinclair, who is also the Museum's Management Board Chairman. After Mr Pugsley officially opened the exhibition, viewing commenced. "Empire and Desire", the theme for this exhibition, reflects the mood of the nation at the tum of the century: that was the great desire to serve the empire. The display starts with many photographs from the Alexander Turnbull Library of New Zealand before and during World War One. New Zealanders had a strong desire to fight for King and Country, as the title of the exhibition states. The exhibition demonstrates the rcality of Gallipoli. The photographs show the horror in everyday life. "You can see the changes on the men's faces from pride and glory to shock and horror," said David Fitzwater, the senior display artist at the Museum. Incorporated in the display is a Gallipoli trench visitors can walk through to try and get the feel of what it was like as a soldier at the time. The visitor can also look through a periscope at the hillsides and climb the ladder out of the trench. Soldiers' diaries are also on display for viewing which reveal their innermost feelings. The last section displays the soldiers returning home to New Zealand life, rehabilitating into normal life. There is an area of small photographs which mothers, wives and sisters sent at the time to the Auckland Weekly News. It is interesting to note that most of these men's next of kin addresses were in England.