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Kōrero: First World War

Certificate of service

Although losses were heavy and many soldiers suffered ailments for the remainder of their lives as a result of serving in the First World War, their fellow-countrymen looked on their service with pride. Every returned soldier was given a certificate of the services in the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces. The certificate noted where and for how long the person had served, and any medals awarded him. In this case, Gunner Percy Nisbett served for a total of four years and 172 days, and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. The certificates were often framed and placed on the veteran's drawing-room wall.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Nelson Provincial Museum, Research Library and Archive

Reference: UMS1200

Permission must be sought from Nelson Provincial Museum before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Ian McGibbon, First World War – Impact of the war, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/zoomify/34140/certificate-of-service (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Ian McGibbon, i tāngia i te 16 April 2012.

Comments

Imelda Bargas
15 January 2016
Dear Pat Thank you for your comment. Around 80,000 of these certificates were produced. Around another 17,000 similar certificates were later produced for the next-of-kin of deceased soldiers. Not all were claimed by soldiers or their next-of-kin (some 6000 remained unclaimed in 1924) but it is likely that many remain on walls just like yours around the country. Perhaps other visitors to our website can share whether they still have one in their family. Regards, Imelda. Imelda Bargas | Digital Content Lead / Senior Historian, Research and Publishing Group Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Pat Trenberth
15 January 2016
I have one of these certificates given to my grandfather William Patrick Trenberth framed hanging on my lounge wall. I'm sure thousands of these were given out. Wonder how many still survive? It says that it was framed on 20.1.16.