Story: Telecommunications

War telegram

War telegram

In 19th and the first half of the 20th century telegrams were commonly used to send important or urgent news. The military sent telegrams to tell parents of soldiers that their son was missing or had been killed in action. In this telegram a man named only as Irving tells Mrs F. Moncur of Tīrau that he has 'received wire [telegram] Eric killed in action'. The year was 1915.

Using this item

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira
Reference: MS2002-224 Telegram

Permission of the Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

A. C. Wilson, 'Telecommunications - Post and Telegraph, 1914–1945', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/22011/war-telegram (accessed 30 March 2024)

Story by A. C. Wilson, published 11 Mar 2010, updated 1 Apr 2022