Within a month of the declaration of war a New Zealand force had captured Western Samoa from Germany. Here the Union Jack flag is raised at Apia by New Zealand soldiers at 8 a.m. on 30 August 1914, the morning after the occupation. The capture was strategically important because there was a radio transmitter in the hills behind Apia capable of sending signals to Berlin and to the German fleet in the Pacific. The New Zealanders' conquest was a peaceful affair, but it was marred by some disorder when New Zealand soldiers ransacked the liquor store at Aggie Grey's Hotel.
Using this item
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Reference:
C.001559
Photograph by Thomas Andrew
Permission of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
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