Veterans’ war diaries repatriated
The war diaries of three World War I veterans have finally been repatriated to New Zealand’s shores after almost half a century, which saw the men die fighting for their belongings.
After Cyril James Claridge, Hartley Valentine Palmer and Clifford James Walsh passed away, their descendants continued the battle – some for more than 40 years – to see the war memorabilia that contained precious diaries and photos returned home.
The families travelled from across the country to hold the mementos for the first time this week at the National Library in Wellington, some reading the words of their ancestors for the first time.
The items became part of a collection at Leeds University in the United Kingdom after English historian Peter Liddle visited New Zealand’s returned servicemen in the 1970s.
Liddle collected letters, diaries, official and personal papers, photographs, newspapers, artwork and recollections of more than 4000 people who experienced WWI, and another 500 items from WWII soldiers.
He took some items back to the UK and the personal collection was eventually sold to the university. But the families maintained the diaries were only ever loaned to Liddle. Repeated calls for the material to be repatriated had been refused until this year.
The Ministry for Culture and Heritage began talks with the university last year following a Stuff investigation that revealed Leeds University did not hold a ‘‘depositor agreement’’ – a standard legal document when any treasured antiquities are given to a museum or private collection.
Families with memorabilia in the Liddle collection were given hope in 2017 when they learnt of another family, related to veteran Henry George Hunter, whose diaries were returned in 2009 after ‘‘a long, drawn-out battle’’.
The ministry said in April it was working with the university and the National Library of New Zealand to get the ‘‘right’’ outcome.
Alexander Turnbull Library associate chief librarian Mark Crookston said the valuable documents would be a significant addition to the World War I collection. ‘‘The four-year centenary of the First World War has highlighted the value of New Zealand’s documentary heritage.
‘‘Having the diaries here is a tangible reminder of this important event in our country’s history.’’ All other original New Zealand diaries, letters, photographs and other materials in the Liddle Collection had been digitised and donated in that form to the Alexander Turnbull Library, he said.
They would be available online by early 2019.
Crookston said that when Liddle removed the items from the country he did not breach any cultural heritage legislation, at the time.
Ministry for Culture and Heritage Manatu¯ Taonga chief historian Neill Atkinson said it was a delight to see the 1915 diaries and historic documents with firsthand accounts of Gallipoli.
The items will now form part of the Alexander Turnbull Library’s collection.