Story: Second World War

This telegram announcing that the United Kingdom had declared war on Germany was received in New Zealand at 11.45 p.m. on the night of 3 September 1939. At that point New Zealand followed suit, and backdated its declaration to the same moment when the United Kingdom had declared war (9.30 p.m. on 3 September). It has sometimes been suggested that New Zealand declared war ahead of the UK, on account of its time zone being 10 and a half hours ahead of British Summer Time – but this is not true. Two days later, 5 September, Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage formally announced New Zealand's involvement and affirmed that the country would support Britain in his famous phrase, 'Where she goes, we go; where she stands, we stand.'

Transcript

Both with gratitude for the past and with confidence in the future, we arrange ourselves without fear beside Britain. Where she goes, we go. Where she stands, we stand. We're only a small and young nation, but we are one and all a band of brothers and we march forward with a union of hearts and wills to a common destiny.