Young war poet will help launch Waikato WW1 exhibition

20 April 2015

A  World War One commemorative poem written by a  Waingaro School student will be read by the author at the official opening of the WW1 exhibition For Us They Fell at Waikato Museum on Friday 24 April. 

The winning poem by year 7 student  Isara  Gatfield-Dudson was chosen from entries to the Museum’s School War Poets Competition, developed as part of the launch for Waikato Museum’s WW1 commemorative exhibition  For Us They Fell, which opens to the public on Anzac Day (25 April).

Waikato Museum Director Cherie Meecham says the Museum was overwhelmed at the response from Waikato and Coromandel schools.  

“Our young war poets have obviously been doing their homework. The winning poem encapsulates the feelings of a community coming together to commemorate a war and honours those that fell to give us our freedom. It’s a beautiful and very moving poem.”

For Us They Fell

Out on the battlefield,

Facing the enemy,

For us they fought.

And we are remembering.

For them we live,

The peace they gave us,

The lives they lost,

The families who mourned,

There are far too many for us to forget.

They say ‘Lest we forget’,

And right they are.

The poppies we wear,

Are for their souls,

Are for the blood they shed,

Are for the lives they lost.

For us they fell.

Isara Gatfield-Dudson, Year 7, Waingaro School

Waikato Museum’s exhibition For Us They Fell tells the Waikato WWI story through the experiences of Waikato people. The exhibition takes the visitor from Waikato as it was just before the war, through the major campaigns and events and to the present day

"We are indebted to the many people of the Waikato who have contributed many untold stories and personal treasures to make this a truly unique Waikato WWI project,” said Ms Meecham.

Background

For Us They Fell will continue to evolve during the WWI centenary years from Anzac Day 2015 – the 100th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli - until the 100th anniversary of the Armistice in November 2018. The exhibition is supported by a website forustheyfell.org.nz where people can view and contribute to soldiers’ information.

For Us They Fell, is open from 10am – 4.30pm daily at Waikato Museum Te Whare Taonga o Waikato. Entry is free and guided tours are from Thursday – Saturday 1.30pm – 2.30pm.

For more information contact:

Louise Belay
Waikato Museum Partnerships and Communications Manager
07 838 6956
021 536 557
louise.belay@hcc.govt.nz