Remembering those whose lives were shaped by war

The approach of Anzac Day signals a time to remember the millions of people who were affected by twentieth-century wars, and those whose lives and lands are still ravaged by invasion and civil conflict. 

Oratia Books has a firm commitment to telling the stories of New Zealanders at war, not to glorify the events but better to understand and learn from the experience. 

Children's books such as When Dad Came Home touchingly retell the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder on returning soldiers, and the role of family love in healing. 

Creating reconciliation and friendship from the shared experienced of Gallipoli is the theme  of our latest children's book, The Water Bottle, a collaboration between Kiwi author Philippa Werry and Turkish illustrator Burak Akbay.

For older readers, the most recent of Christopher Pugsley's masterful works of military history narrates New Zealand's last battle of the First World War as it happens. Le Quesnoy 1918 is an on-the-ground account of this daring capture of the French town of Le Quesnoy, vividly relating the realities of warfare. 

A valuable companion to Pugsley's new edition of Gallipoli: The New Zealand Story, Matthew Wright's The New Zealand Experience at Gallipoli and the Western Front analyses what it was like for New Zealand soldiers at the two main battle fronts where they fought, and frames it with the social effects back home.

We will remember them this 25 April. 

For more reading, check the Oratia Books website.

New edition of standard history of Gallipoli reflects major revision of official numbers

First published in 1984, Gallipoli: The New Zealand Story is a key work in the nation's history.

In the words of the NZ Listener, Christopher Pugsley's first book 'recast our vision of the iconic campaign and simultaneously redefined the art of military-history writing in New Zealand.'

From the initial Hodder & Stoughton publication, editions have followed from Sceptre Paperbacks, Reed Books (NZ) and Penguin Books, before Oratia issued the fifth edition in 2014 in a co-edition with British publisher Frontline Books. 

The book has become a definitive account of New Zealand's role in the disastrous 1915 campaign, when a British-led expeditionary force met the Turkish army in an attempt to wrest control of the Dardanelles. 

 

This sixth edition builds on a revision of New Zealand troop numbers at Gallipoli by scholars including the late Richard Stowers, David Green, John Crawford and Matthew Buck. 

In his preface to the new edition, Pugsley notes the conclusion of this research is 'that some 16,000–17,000 New Zealanders served on the Peninsula in the campaign, doubling the previously used official figure.'

In light of this and other new work, he has made extensive updates to the book, while retaining its engaging style and extensive photos.

Gallipoli: The New Zealand Story takes us to the campaign through the eyes of the soldiers — ordinary Kiwis whose memories speak through their letters and diaries. 

Gallipoli does justice to the reality of this pivotal campaign for New Zealand and provides the background story to Anzac Day.

The national memorial day marks the anniversary of the Gallipoli landings on 25 April 1915 by Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) troops.

'Gallipoli: The New Zealand Story has become the ‘go-to’ text on Gallipoli’ 

— Sir Jerry Mateparae

The Author

A retired Lieutenant-Colonel in the New Zealand Army, Christopher Pugsley was a lecturer in military studies here, in Australia and the UK. Among his many books are four others with Oratia: The Anzac Experience, Te Hokowhitu a Tu, The Camera in the Crowd  and Le Quesnoy 1918. He is historical director of the ‘Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War’ exhibition at Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, which has now been extended to 2025. A frequent visitor and guide to Gallipoli, Chris lives with his wife in Waikanae Beach.

Publication Date: 8 April 2022 |  ISBN: 978-0-947506-07-0 |  RRP $49.99

Paperback, 240 x 170 mm portrait, 400 pages b&w, 60 photos

New picture book The Water Bottle honours the Turkish-New Zealand bond forged at Gallipoli

The Water Bottle

Philippa Werry, illustrated by Burak Akbay

Kiwi author and Turkish illustrator join to create children’s book that fosters the bond forged at Gallipoli

It’s cause for hope when countries that were at war can transcend that enmity, even when separated by thousands of kilometres.

That is what New Zealand and Turkey share — a deep friendship that is commemorated each 25 April on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

The Water Bottle not only celebrates that friendship but was born from it — with Kiwi children’s author Philippa Werry working across the globe with Turkish illustrator Burak Akbay to tell a tale that crosses the Gallipoli trenches. 

Young girl Derya and her family move from Turkey to live in New Zealand. Among the heirlooms they bring with them is the water bottle that an Anzac soldier gave her great-grandfather after he had been wounded from Gallipoli.

At school she learns that her classmate Tom had a great-great-uncle who fought at Gallipoli. 

Together with their friend Airini they  learn about the war, attend an Anzac Day ceremony, then come home to make Anzac biscuits with Tom’s mum. 

‘Look at the three of us,’ Airini says. ‘Many years ago our families fought each other, but now we can be friends.

The Water Bottle was created between Turkey and New Zealand via email, Zoom and file sharing. 

Oratia Books in Auckland thanks Philippa and Burak for their amazing work; Göksun Bayraktar and Nazlı Gürkaş of The Black Cat Agency, Istanbul, who shared the initial idea and made it happen; and author Christopher Pugsley for his advice.

The Authors

Philippa Werry is an award-winning author of books for children, both fiction and non-fiction. She is well known for history books including Anzac Day and Best Mates. She lives with her family in Wellington (see https://philippawerry.co.nz). 

Burak Akbay is a prominent illustrator and designer of children’s books who lives in Istanbul, Turkey. From his origins in creating comic fanzines, he now illustrates books full-time and loves comics, graphic novels and film noir.

Publication Date: 5 April 2022 |  ISBN: 978-1-99-004215-7 |  RRP $22.99

Paperback, 270 x 210 mm portrait, 32 pages colour

Le Quesnoy authority and author Christopher Pugsley features on TV3 this Anzac Day

The taking of Le Quesnoy by Kiwi troops in the dying days of the First World War will feature in a new documentary on TV3 on Anzac Day.

Author Christopher Pugsley features in the documentary, to screen at 7.30 a.m. this Saturday 25 April (and from 8.30 a.m. on TV3+1).

Pugsley's dynamic book on the taking of the French town, Le Quesnoy 1918, was published in an updated edition in March.

Anzac Day celebrations this year have been severely curtailed by restrictions in place to limit the spread of Covid-19.

Broadcast and online coverage will therefore be ever more vital. 

Christopher has offered his reflections on the Anzac Day in a time of pandemic in the Auckland Museum's Online Cenotaph. 

Christopher Pugsley

Fortunately, online book sales will resume from 28 April, so our distributors PDL can ship out orders made via your local bookseller; check here for a list of independent bookstores.

Reflecting on Anzac Day through words, images and books

Author Christopher Pugsley featured in Radio New Zealand's extensive Anzac Day 2018 coverage yesterday — offering his reflections on twentieth-century conflicts, commemorations, and the filming of early military activity as captured in his latest book, The Camera in the Crowd:

Click here to catch his interview with Colin Peacock.

There's also a link  to film of the New Zealand Field Artillery in France on Radio New Zealand's Anzac Day page.

Oratia's latest addition to the history of New Zealand military service is Paul Harrison's Seek and Destroy: The History of 3 Squadron RNZAF, which was published on 5 April (see information here).

Nigel Hopkins of Beach FM, Kapiti spoke with Paul about the book on 23 April. 

On 12 April, Paul and Retired Colonel Roger Pearce (who contributed an appendix about the squadron's activities in Malaysia and Vietnam) presented a copy of Seek and Destroy to Carolyn Carr, Chief Librarian of the New Zealand Defence Force Library.

From left: Paul Harrison, Carolyn Carr and Roger Pearce

For more about these and other military history titles, check out the Oratia website's books page. 

Great reception for Matthew Wright's new book as Anzac Day approaches

The New Zealand Experience at Gallipoli and the Western Front has made a strong showing in the media and bookstores since publication on 6 April.

This past Saturday 22nd, Messines Bookshop in Featherston hosted a launch at which author Matthew Wright spoke.

Matthew Wright signing a copy for Viv Napier, Mayor of South Wairarapa 

A good crowd turned out to this young bookshop that specialises in military history.

Also on the weekend, the New Zealand Listener came out with a major extract from the book. Here's how Matthew's writing about the Passchendaele campaign is billed on the Noted website:

In Flanders fields

New Zealand’s most lethal military campaign was on the Western Front between 1916 and 1918. On the campaign’s worst day, a century ago this year, 845 Kiwis died trying to take a small Belgian village. by Matthew Wright

The new issue of the New Zealand Listener featuring Matthew's work 

Get your copy of the Listener to read more.

Historian Gavin McLean gave the book a very positive review in the Otago Daily Times books section on the weekend - describing it as 'a fine introduction to a war that still shapes our world'.

Matthew had earlier talked about the book with Terry Toner on Radio Southland's book show.

And for information about The New Zealand Experience at Gallipoli and the Western Front, click
here.

Matthew Wright's authoritative First World War history publishes today

Out today, The New Zealand Experience at Gallipoli and the Western Front has been praised as "well written, superbly organised, balanced and up to date" and "an ideal introduction on New Zealand's encounter with the maelstrom of the First World War".

On sale from today in all good booksellers, Matthew Wright's major history balances taut writing with extensive illustrations.

A sample of the photos gives a flavour of what our soldiers faced during the Gallipoli and Western Front campaigns, and the impact these events had back home.

The New Zealand Experience at Gallipoli and the Western Front | ISBN: 978-0-947506-19-3 |  

RRP $49.99  |  Paperback with flaps, 240 x 170 mm, 392 pages

Te Hokowhitu a Tu on Radio Live this Anzac Day

The Bookman Graham Beattie will be talking to Mark Sainsbury about the new edition of Christopher Pugsley's Te Hokowhitu a Tu: The Maori Pioneer Battalion in the First World War on Radio Live this Saturday, Anzac Day morning. 

http://beattiesbookblog.blogspot.co.nz/2015/04/te-hokowhitu-tu-maori-battalion-in.html

You can also listen to Christopher Pugsley's brilliant account of the Gallipoli campaign in last week's interview on Radio New Zealand's Saturday Morning show here.

Historian Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Christopher Pugsley is also the author of Gallipoli: The New Zealand Story (also a Libro International book), a brilliant and moving account of this defining campaign of the First World War, told through the eyes of those who fought and died in the unsuccessful effort to seize the Dardanelles from Turkey.

Te Hokowhitu a Tu to be published ahead of Gallipoli Centenary

Te Hokowhitu a Tu

The Maori Pioneer Battalion in

the First World War

Christopher Pugsley

Main history of Maori and Pacific Island role in the First World War makes welcome return

Maori soldiers signing up for the First World War representing a formidable fighting force – Te Hokowhitu a Tu, or the Seventy twice-told warriors of the war god.

Te Hokowhitu a Tu tells the story of the decisive contribution that Maori and Pacific Islanders made on the front lines of Gallipoli and the Western Front.

Richly illustrated with unique photos and memorabilia, the book balances its account of military exploits with a portrayal of daily life for Maori and Pacific Island soldiers.

To mark the Gallipoli centenary, this April Libro International will re-publish Te Hokowhitu a Tu with a smart new cover and the original text.

Christopher Pugsley’s contribution to military history was recognised by his receipt of the New Zealand Order of Merit Award in January. He retired in 2012 as Senior Lecturer at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, UK, and now works as a freelance historian from his home in Waikanae. The author of numerous books including Gallipoli: The New Zealand Story, Christopher is the principal historian for Te Papa’s Gallipoli project.

Release Date:  16 April 2015  |  ISBN: 978-1-877514-77-7  |  RRP $39.99

Paperback with flaps, 297 x 210 mm, 148 pages b&w

Libro International celebrates Anzac Day and Italy Liberation Day in Auckland

Libro International commemorated Anzac Day this evening together with the Italy Star Association (servicemen who fought in Italy and their families) and the Dante Alighieri Society. The event, hosted by Italy Star NZ president Gary Russell at Kinder House in Parnell, was well attended. For the first time the Italian community was present also to celebrate Italy Liberation Day which, like Anzac Day, falls on 25 April.

Among those present were Italian Campaign veterans Les Andrews and John Cawte, and Italian Honorary Consul Mario Magaraggia. Alessandra Zecchini spoke about the book To the Gateways of Florence: New Zealand Forces in Tuscany, 1944, and thanked the Italy Star for hosting the event .

Top, Left to right: Veterans Les Andrews and John Cawte with Italian Honorary Consul Mario Magaraggia;
Mrs Andrews with Marianne Di Cesare; Anzac red poppy: Alessandra Zecchini from Libro International talking about the book  To the Gateways of Florence.

Libro International donated copies of To the Gateways of Florence to raffle for the Italy Star Association's upcoming 70th Anniversary 2NZEF tour to Italy. For more information contact Gary Russell, info.italystarnz@gmail.com