1998 Memorial Statues - Joint Issue with Turkey

The Gallipoli Campaign.
          On 25 April 1915, British, French, Australian and New Zealand forces launched a major sea and land offensive at the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula in the Canakkale province of Turkey. The aim was to open up a new theatre of war as an alternative to the stalemate in France, relieve pressure on Russian forces by the Turks in the Caucasus and provide a direct link with Russia through the Black Sea by gaining control of Istanbul, the Dardanelles and Bosporus Straits.
          However, the Allied commanders who planned the offensive, First Munitions Minister David Lloyd George, First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchill, General Kitchener and Admiral Cardin, dramatically underestimated the resolve of the Turks. Dug into the hills overlooking the beachheads, the defenders put up stiff resistance, inspired by the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (later, founder of the Turkish Republic and its first President).
          The Gallipoli campaign lasted 9 months and involved more than a million men. By the time it was officially abandoned on 8 January 1916, both sides had suffered horrendous casualties. New Zealand and Australian troops particularly had taken a real pounding having been landed on the wrong beach surrounded by steep hills, an almost impossible situation. Over 33,000 allied and 86,000 Turkish troops died in the campaign. 
          New Zealand and Turkey have since created a relationship of goodwill and, each year many New Zealanders travel to Turkey to remember those who died on the Gallipoli Peninsula.

2018 Armistice 1918 - 2018.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, the guns fell silent along the Western Front. The First World War had effectively ended. To commemorate this important centenary and honour those who served, a series of official stamps and legal tender commemorative coins have been issued.

2018 World War I Commemorative Book Series.

          "100 years ago, the shape of New Zealand began to change forever, as we followed King and Empire to serve in the First World War. What was meant to be a ‘great adventure’, soon affected every New Zealander at home and abroad, with 18,500 New Zealanders never to return. To commemorate this important centenary and honour those who served, New Zealand Post is issuing official stamps and legal tender commemorative coins."
         That was the opening statement for this series of issues from the NZ Post website. This was the beginning of a complex series of issues spread over five years. Each year a collector book was produced to go with the stamps and tell the story behind the New Zealander featured each year. Five books together with their collector bookcase. 

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2018 Back From The Brink. - 1918.

2018  World War I Commemoration Book Series.

Back to 2017  The Darkest Hour - 1917.

       The beginning of hope. In this, the final instalment of this World War I series we see the end of the war and things beginning the long road back towards normal although they would never be the same as they were before the war. During World War I, things had changed, the world had changed. Back in New Zealand, families were coming to terms with the knowledge many young men would never return. Many women, who had enjoyed new freedom outside the home, working in employment, job situations never opened to them before the war didn't want to return to being a house-wife. 

All ten stamps on a special miniature sheet.

2017 The Darkest Hour 1917

2018  World War I  Commemorative Book Series.

Back to 2016 Courage & Commitment - 1916.              Forward to 2018 Back from the Brink - 1918.

By 1917, soldiers and loved ones had begun to lose faith in the ongoing war. Those on the Western Front were living in cold, wet trenches, and those at home were doing what they could to keep the home fires burning. New Zealand would experience the deadliest day in its military history when 845 lives were lost in the Belgian town of Passchendaele.

This sheet features the 6 x $1.00 stamps, the 2 x $2.20 stamps and the 2 x $2.70 stamps, all ten stamps of the Darkest Hour Issue.

2016 - Courage & Commitment 1916

2018 World War I Commemorative Book Series.

Back to 2015 The Spirit of ANZAC - 1915.                  Forward to 2017 The Darkest Hour - 1917.

         Here is the third annual instalment (of five) in New Zealand’s homage to the Great War (World War I). The multiple issue format is unchanged – a set of twenty stamps: a block of six, two se-tenant pairs and a sheetlet of ten; two miniature sheets, one of six and one of four; and a commemorative prestige booklet containing twelve booklet panes.

         By 1916 the scale of the Great War had been truly realised. At home, volunteers for service had slowed to a trickle and to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for more men to fight, conscription was introduced. In New Zealand, the first Anzac Day was observed a year after the Gallipoli landings. As the battle moved to the Western Front, the courage and commitment of the servicemen were sorely tested.

          Our main writer on these kinds of subjects has rejected this series completely so I've picked it up and will try and do what I can to make it fly, but I must confess to lacking knowledge of World War I.

2015 Capital Stamp Show.

In 2015 which marked 150 years since Parliament moved from Auckland to Wellington, the Wellington Philatelic Society hosted this year’s annual stamp show at the TSB Bank Arena, Wellington. To commemorate The Capital Stamp Show 2015, New Zealand Post issued an exhibition miniature sheet and souvenir cover.

This miniature sheet shows a photo of the farewell parade for the 6th Reinforcements on Lambton Quay, Wellington, on 14 August 1915 and contain three stamps from the 1915: The Spirit of Anzac commemorative stamp issue, commemorating 100 years since the Gallipoli campaign.

2003 Military Uniforms

 

        2003 Military Uniforms was only issued as the miniature sheet format seen below. It featured 20 stamps showing figures in military uniform from the 1860s through to the modern uniforms of today.

       Some details and items, wore or used, are included on each stamp along the service medal likely to have been received. More details regarding each uniform were printed on the back of each stamp so beside each stamp we have also shown its reverse side.

        The top First Day Covers plus the full reverse sheet can be found at the bottom of this page.

        If you are interested in military stamps, you might discover more about New Zealand in our ANZAC Military collection. Links can be found in the navigation bar at the top of the page. 

Simpson and his Donkey.

This post was inspired by one of the stamps from 2015 - The Spirit of ANZAC - 1915.

         On the 25th of April, 1915, Australian and New Zealand troops saw action for the first time in World War I.  The aim of the campaign was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul) and eliminated both of Germany's Balkan allies (Turkey and Bulgaria) from the war. 

         This poorly planned landing went wrong from the start. Instead of landing on the chosen beach the Australian and New Zealanders landed further north on a narrow beach surrounded by steep hills. For six months they held this beach, making little headway inland against fierce resistance from the Turkish soldiers. Finally the decision had to be made to pull the troops back off the beach.

1936 - 1965 - Early ANZAC Issues.

          On the 25th of April, 1915, New Zealand troops saw action for the first time in World War I.  The aim of the campaign was to capture Constantinople (now Istanbul).  The goal was to eliminated both of Germany's Balkan allies (Turkey and Bulgaria) from the war, and relieved the Russians from the heavy German pressure they were facing. 
         The poorly planned landing went wrong from the start. Instead of landing on the chosen beach the Australian and New Zealanders landed further north on a narrow beach surrounded by steep hills. For six months they held this beach, making little headway inland against fierce resistance from the Turkish soldiers. Finally the decision had to be made to pull the troops back off the beach.
        This heroic but disastrous campaign left 2,721 New Zealanders dead and 4,752 wounded which was a big hit for such a small country. Over the years much criticism has been made of the British leaders who planned this attack. It would eventually lead to the New Zealand and Australian military becoming more independent from Britain.  
        The campaign became a symbol of New Zealand (and Australia's) war losses. The 25th of April is observed in both countries as ANZAC Day - to remember those countries men and women whose lives were lost in war. 'ANZAC' is an acronym made up of the initials of the 'Australian and New Zealand Army Corps'.
 

2015 ANZAC Joint Issue.

         New Zealand Post partnered with Australia Post to mark 100 years since the Gallipoli campaign with a joint stamp and coin issue commemorates the relationship New Zealand and Australia share under the banner of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC).  100 hundred years later the two countries join together to remember the New Zealand and Australian men who fought together on the beach and on the hills at Gallipoli.

                       

80c - ANZAC Joint Issue.                            $2 - ANZAC Joint Issue. 

(New Zealand)                                               (New Zealand)

2015 - The Spirit of ANZAC 1915

World War I Commemorative Book Series.

Back to 2014 For King and Empire - 1914.

Forward to 2016 Courage & Commitment - 1916.

        This issue follows on from the one issued in 2014 called "1914 For King and Empire." That first issue saw the beginning of World War I and the sending of troops to fight overseas. Now a year later we find the New Zealanders fighting in Gallipoli, along side soldiers from Australia. Over the next three years, there will be three more issues as we follow the story of New Zealand's involvement in the war.
        
         NZ Post says on their web site:
In 1915 New Zealand’s role in the First World War reached a new level. In near-impossible conditions, the New Zealand Expeditionary Force took part in the Gallipoli campaign alongside our Australian neighbours. The Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) was formed and the spirit of Anzac lives on today.

        That is where the word 'ANZAC' comes from, little known in other parts of the world but so famous in Australia and New Zealand. Ever since they fought together in Gillipoli there has been a close relationship between the two countries. More recently a closer bond has been formed with Turkey as well.  In 1998 New Zealand and Turkey did a joint issue '1998 Memorial Statues - Joint Issue with Turkey.' You can find this in our collection, Military/ANZAC Part One.

2014 Baypex National Stamp Show.



This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Hastings Stamp Collectors Club and the 80th anniversary of the Hawke’s Bay Philatelic Society. To mark these significant anniversaries, a National Stamp Show is being held in the Hawke’s Bay.

          Baypex 2014 took place from 14 to 16 November 2014 at the Pettigrew Green Arena in Taradale, Napier. Hawke’s Bay is home to the twin cities of Hastings and Napier, known for their fine wine, Art Deco architecture and stunning weather.

         To commemorate Baypex 2014, New Zealand Post is issuing an exhibition miniature sheet and exhibition souvenir cover. The unique collectables show the iconic Soundshell from the Marine Parade in Napier. These special collectables incorporate three stamps from the For King & Empire stamp issue into the miniature sheet.
        Each day of the exhibition a different postmark, designed by Alan Hollows of New Zealand Post, was used on items posted at the exhibition. Below are proofs of the three cancels for the dates 14th through 16th of November, 2014.

Some of the images in this post were used with permission from the illustrated catalogue of StampsNZ

You can visit their web site and On-line Catalogue at, http://stampsnz.com/ 

Some information on this post came from the NZ Post Web Site. 

The special exhibition postmark cancels came from the web site of

The Royal Philatelic Society of New Zealand Inc.

2014 For King and Empire - 1914

World War I Commemorative Book Series.

Forward to 2015 The Spirit of ANZAC - 1915.

          "100 years ago, the shape of New Zealand began to change forever, as we followed King and Empire to serve in the First World War. What was meant to be a ‘great adventure’, soon affected every New Zealander at home and abroad, with 18,500 New Zealanders never to return. To commemorate this important centenary and honour those who served, New Zealand Post is issuing official stamps and legal tender commemorative coins."
         That was the opening statement for this issue from the NZ Post website. This is the beginning of a complex series of issues spread over five years. I am unsure how these five sets will fit together so this post might be changed or replaced at some point as I learn more.
         The main feature of this issue is a presentation book containing 10 special pages/sheets. The Melville Mirfin story is honoured in this special commemorative book, featuring never-before-seen imagery of the Great War through Mirfin’s eyes. Melville was a soldier who went to fight in the war. A photo of Melville in uniform can be seen on the 80c stamp to the left.

2008 ANZAC I Stories of Nationhood.

         In 2008 New Zealand began what has become a regular issue on a military theme for ANZAC Day. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, the combined army group which had hastily be put together by the two countries and sent to join the fighting in World War I. The first action was the ill-fated landing at what is now known as ANZAC Cove, Gallipoli.

        Both countries now remember this landing, in which many brave young men lost their lives, by putting aside the 25th of April each year to hold special parades and services. The day is also remembered by the wearing of a red poppy, as can be scene on each the stamps below.

        There have been other military sets issued before this one for ANZAC and for special military anniversaries but this issue is different in that it was to become the start of a yearly issue for ANZAC. Over the years younger people, people who had been born many years after the two world wars, have begun attending these services in ever greater numbers. So as the ranks of a veterans have thinned with the now old men passing away the crowds of young people have increased. New Zealand Post now recognises this with a regular ANZAC issue.

        The stamps are a simple, yet effective design, with a background picture in sepia, a red poppy and writing and the silver fern in silver. Each stamp also carries that famous slogan of ANZAC Day "Lest we forget."     

(To see my entire Military / Anzac collection, click on either link in the page bar above.)