The First World War exacted a huge toll of pain and death on New Zealand society. More than 18,000 New Zealand men lost their lives. In smaller rural communities such as Lawrence, in Otago, most people would have known well the men whose names are inscribed on the memorial. There are 84 dead from the Great War listed with their rank on this memorial (which includes surrounding districts). The population of Lawrence itself in 1916 was only 837.