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Story: First World War

New Zealand soldiers on the Somme, 1918

New Zealand soldiers on the Somme, 1918

On 21 March 1918 German troops broke through the allied lines and threatened to advance with devastating consequences for the outcome of the war. The New Zealand Division played a significant role in blunting their attack.  Here Kiwi soldiers take a breather on the front line at La Signy Farm on 6 April 1918, the day after the major Battle of the Ancre.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association Collection

Reference: 1/2-013089-G

by Henry Armytage Sanders

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Ian McGibbon, First World War – Western Front, 1918, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/34133/new-zealand-soldiers-on-the-somme-1918 (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Ian McGibbon, published 16 April 2012.

Comments

Patricia Pascall
17 February 2018
Edward Mohan AABK 18805 W5549 0082017. Death Certificate 26.03.1918 says "killed in action in the field" France. He was in the N.Z 3rd . Rifle Division... N.Z, Expeditionary Force and was killed on 26.03.1918 by Colin camp .Auchonville.