For King and Country

Four Brothers Four Crosses A New Zealand Story

Author: Jock Vennell

Almost a generation of the best young men werewiped out... In all walks of life many of thosewho would have been the leaders were missing...Not only these men, but those who would havebeen their children are missing, and we have hadto do our best without them.Sir Douglas Robb. An undergraduate in 1917, he later became a leadingsurgeon and Chancellor of the University of AucklandThis is the tragedy of World War I, which thelatest book by Jock Vennell chronicles. He tellsthe story of an Invercargill family of five brothers- the Christophers. All but one served overseasat Gallipoli and on the Western Front and nonereturned home. They were among the more than18,000 young men who lost their lives fightingin the interests of the British Empire to whichthey and their country belonged.Countless others came home so physicallyand mentally damaged that they could play nouseful part in post-war society. And their wives,sweethearts and families suffered because manyof the men who returned were so changed bywhat they had seen and done that they werenever able to live normal lives. They were theother casualties of war and their sufferings werenot properly acknowledged by the governmentof the day.But the damage went deeper. The fouryearconflict imposed a huge economic coston our developing nation, creating a turmoilthat continued even after the war. It disruptednationally important industries and socialservices, and limited personal freedoms.Through the lives and deaths of the fourChristophers brothers, military historian JockVennell throws fresh light on the impact ofWorld War I on our small colonial society andits true cost in the destruction of so many - notonly those killed but also those who survived. Helooks at why so many answered the call to servetheir King, country and Empire, even when otherfamily members had been killed. And throughFor King and Country he looks at the hardshipsand horrors that so many of these soldiers had toendure.For King and CountryJock VennellA New Zealand StoryFour Brothers, Four Crosses

The story of the four Christophers Brothers who were all killed in World War I leads to a more general discussion of the devasting effect of World War I on New Zealand

Product Unavailable

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Summary

The story of the four Christophers Brothers who were all killed in World War I leads to a more general discussion of the devasting effect of World War I on New Zealand

Description

The third of three books by military historian Jock Vennell on New Zealand's participation in World War 1 through the experiences of its commanders and the men they led. A biography of Major General Sir Andrew Russell, commander of the New Zealand Division in France from 1916 to the end of the war, was followed by the first published biography of Gallipoli hero, Lieutenant Colonel William Malone.This book is the story of a New Zealand family of five brothers who enlisted to fight for their country in World War 1 and never returned. They were among the more than 18,000 young men who lost their lives fighting for the British Empire to which their country belonged in 1914. Countless others were badly wounded or returned home so physically and mentally damaged that they could play no useful part in post-war society.Through the tragedy of the Christophers family, military historian Jock Vennell traces the social and economic damage done to New Zealand society by the war, destroying so many of the best of its coming generation, disrupting nationally important industries and social services and limiting personal freedoms. He looks at why so many young men willingly answered the call to serve their King, country, and empire, despite the terrible loss of life sustained on the battlefields of Europe, Turkey, and the Middle East over four years of war.

About the Author

Jock Vennell is a former journalist, editor, and public affairs director of the Ministry of Defence. His first book, a biography of Major General Sir Andrew Russell, was published in 2011 and subsequently made into a television documentary. His biography of Lieutenant Colonel William Malone was published in 2015.