For King and Other Countries

When war was declared in August 1914, many New Zealanders were travelling or living abroad. In the rush to sign up to defend the Empire, it was often easier to enlist locally than travel back to New Zealand to join the NZEF. That's one of the reasons that more than ten thousand New Zealanders fought the First World War under other flags, in the military forces of other nations. If they are added to the total number of New Zealanders currently understood to have served, then New Zealand's contribution to the war effort becomes even more remarkable, but to date they have not been correctly enumerated, let alone included. These New Zealanders served with the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), with British Army units, the Indian Army, the Canadian Expeditionary Force and the French Foreign Legion, and they include the considerable number of women who served with other nations' medical organisations. Leading military historian Glyn Harper has scoured archives and museums worldwide to show where and when these New Zealanders served, and to tell their remarkable - and sometimes surprising and tragic - stories for the first time. For King and Other Countries makes a unique contribution to our understanding of our military history.

‘For King and Other Countries has found a fresh angle our WW1 history — an engrossing catalogue of those who served under other flags. ... What’s so engaging about this book is the individual stories, the odd places they ended up and the occasional tragic ends they met. ... And the stories of the occasional conmen and scallywags who would jump from one army of the Empire to the other and of selfless nurses who just wanted to make a difference wherever they were needed round out this refreshingly entertaining volume of war stories.’ — New Zealand Listener

‘Adding to the many biographies and stories in this beautifully produced book are rare images. Much value is added in reading about the service of a particular New Zealander with an accompanying image to visualise them. It is not easy to write a collective biography of thousands, but Harper skilfully weaves the individual stories into thematic groupings, with weight and space given to the brave and heroic, as well as the larrikins and the villains. ... For King and Other Countries has reclaimed thousands of forgotten New Zealanders who have been, in many cases, absent from this country’s record of service.’ — Tim Cook, NZ Books Pukapuka Aotearoa

Glyn Harper is Professor of War Studies at Massey University in Palmerston North. Graduating with a master’s degree in modern history, and a diploma of teaching from the University of Canterbury, Glyn moved to Australia where he was a high school teacher for seven years. In 1988, Glyn joined the Australian Army and later completed his PhD on the New Zealand commander Sir Howard Kippenberger at the University of New England. In 1996, Glyn transferred to the New Zealand Army where, as commanding officer of the Military Studies Institute, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Glyn was the Army’s official historian for the deployment to East Timor and is the best-selling author of more than 20 books for adults. He is also an award-winning author of books for children and young people. After retiring from the Army in 2001, Glyn joined Massey University. He was Director of the Centre for Defence and Security Studies for six years and was instrumental in establishing the Centenary History Programme. He was Massey’s Project Manager for the CHP and wrote two of its 14 volumes. In 2010, Glyn was a Fulbright Senior Scholar in the United States and in 2012 he was awarded a Queen’s Service Medal for services to historical research.

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