NZ Prime Minister William Massey addressing New Zealand machine gunners at Bois-De-Warnimont, France, June 1918
On March 26, 1856, former New Zealand Prime Minister William Massey was born. Massey was born in Limavady in Ireland. He moved to New Zealand in 1870 where he worked as a farmhand for some years before acquiring his own farm in Mangere, south Auckland, in 1876. Massey gradually became more prominent in his community. This was partly due to his civic involvement in the school board, the debating society, and farming associations. Because of his prominence in these circles, he became involved in political debate, working on behalf of rural conservatives against the Liberal Party government of John Ballance.
Massey won a seat in Parliament in 1894 representing Waitemata. In 1896 he stood in Franklin, an electorate he represented until he died in 1925. Massey was sworn in as Prime Minister on 10 July 1912. During World War 1 Massey entered a collation with Joseph Ward of the Liberal Party. Massey and Ward travelled to the United Kingdom several times, both during and after the war, to discuss military co-operation and peace settlements. During his first visit, Massey visited New Zealand troops, listening to their complaints sympathetically. The war reinforced Massey's strong belief in the British Empire and New Zealand's links with it. He attended the Peace Conference in 1919 and signed the Treaty of Versailles on behalf of New Zealand. Massey continued in his role as Prime Minister until his death in 1925.
This image here is of William Massey addressing New Zealand machine gunners at Bois-De-Warnimont, France. Photograph taken 30 June 1918.
Reference: ACGO 8398 IA76 7/13 H685
collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search#/?q=R24204021
The image was taken by the official New Zealand Expeditionary Force photographer Henry Armytage Sanders. Sanders was an Official NZEF Photographer (service number 37194) and was appointed by the New Zealand Government to document the New Zealand Division during World War One. It is part of a group of photos taken by Sanders which are often referred to as the 'H' series.
For more information use our “ask an archivist” link on our website: www.archives.govt.nz
Material from Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga
NZ Prime Minister William Massey addressing New Zealand machine gunners at Bois-De-Warnimont, France, June 1918
On March 26, 1856, former New Zealand Prime Minister William Massey was born. Massey was born in Limavady in Ireland. He moved to New Zealand in 1870 where he worked as a farmhand for some years before acquiring his own farm in Mangere, south Auckland, in 1876. Massey gradually became more prominent in his community. This was partly due to his civic involvement in the school board, the debating society, and farming associations. Because of his prominence in these circles, he became involved in political debate, working on behalf of rural conservatives against the Liberal Party government of John Ballance.
Massey won a seat in Parliament in 1894 representing Waitemata. In 1896 he stood in Franklin, an electorate he represented until he died in 1925. Massey was sworn in as Prime Minister on 10 July 1912. During World War 1 Massey entered a collation with Joseph Ward of the Liberal Party. Massey and Ward travelled to the United Kingdom several times, both during and after the war, to discuss military co-operation and peace settlements. During his first visit, Massey visited New Zealand troops, listening to their complaints sympathetically. The war reinforced Massey's strong belief in the British Empire and New Zealand's links with it. He attended the Peace Conference in 1919 and signed the Treaty of Versailles on behalf of New Zealand. Massey continued in his role as Prime Minister until his death in 1925.
This image here is of William Massey addressing New Zealand machine gunners at Bois-De-Warnimont, France. Photograph taken 30 June 1918.
Reference: ACGO 8398 IA76 7/13 H685
collections.archives.govt.nz/web/arena/search#/?q=R24204021
The image was taken by the official New Zealand Expeditionary Force photographer Henry Armytage Sanders. Sanders was an Official NZEF Photographer (service number 37194) and was appointed by the New Zealand Government to document the New Zealand Division during World War One. It is part of a group of photos taken by Sanders which are often referred to as the 'H' series.
For more information use our “ask an archivist” link on our website: www.archives.govt.nz
Material from Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga