Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Aug 22, 2010 17:16:05 GMT 12
Photographic history found
By MIKE CREAN - The Press | 5:00AM - Saturday, 21 August 2010
HISTORY IS FRAGILE — when it is stored on glass.
The glass-plate negative of a picture of Canterbury soldiers boarding the troop ship Athenic at Lyttelton on September 23, 1914, is broken in the top left-hand corner.
It was one of 63 glass-plate negatives found by chance at The Press by illustrations staff member Jude Tewnion while sorting photographs in a storeroom. The images offer a window on a poignant moment in history.
Some plates were broken but, when printed, all revealed sharp images of South Island soldiers preparing and leaving for World War I in 1914.
This week, The Press took the 96-year-old plates to the National Army Museum at Waiouru, where they will be archived and preserved.
Museum archivist Dolores Ho was amazed at the clarity and detail in the negatives, all of which have now been digitised by The Press.
• Are your ancestors or relatives here? Do you recognise anyone in these photographs?
• Email .
www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/4046235/Photographic-history-found
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Inspection of the Canterbury Contingent of New Zealand Expeditionary Force by Hon. James Allen,
Minister of Defence at Sockburn Camp.
A portion of the Mounted Regiment's baggage ready to be put on board the baggage trains.
Stacks of oats to feed the horses of the Expeditionary Force.
LEFT: Troops entrain for Lyttelton at Sockburn Station. | RIGHT: The A Squadron, Canterbury Mounted
Regiment arriving in Lyttelton from Evans Pass.
The Canterbury Mounted Regiment on its march to the troop ships.
The Canterbury Mounted Regiment approach the Heathcote bridge.
The Canterbury Contingent waits to board the troop ship.
Infantry and mounted regiment troops waiting to go aboard the troop transport ships at Lyttelton.
The infantry going aboard the troop transport ship in Lyttelton.
Infantry going aboard the troop transport ships at Lyttelton.
Crowds at the barrier while men were embarking at Lyttelton.
The Canterbury Contingent's mounted troops depart Lyttelton on Wednesday September 23, 1914.
The Great Public Demonstration in aid of the Patriotic Fund in Christchurch on Monday August 24, 1914.
Packing clothes for the distressed people of Belgium and Great Britain
at the Montreal Street store, Messrs Pyne and Co.
The Wellington Contingent at Awapuni Racecourse, Palmerston North.
Embarkation of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force from Wellington Harbour on October 14, 1914.
