Exhibition shows Wakatipu at war

Taylor Reed, of Arrowtown, examines the  Lakes District Museum's exhibition area last week. Photo...
Taylor Reed, of Arrowtown, examines the Lakes District Museum's exhibition area last week. Photo by Louise Scott.
Mr Reed's father, John. Photo supplied.
Mr Reed's father, John. Photo supplied.

Medals, old photographs, dog tags and letters from loved ones are among the numerous historical artefacts with local significance in a new exhibition.

''WW1 and the Wakatipu: Lest We Forget'' opened last weekend at the Lakes District Museum in Arrowtown to commemorate a century since the beginning of World War 1. The exhibition shares the stories of local men and women who served during the conflict.

One of the local families to come forward was the Reeds, of Arrowtown.

In 1914, an 18-year-old John Reed was training with the Otago Mounted Rifles. When war was declared, he enlisted immediately and served on the front line, including at Gallipoli.

His son Taylor Reed - a former Arrowtown borough deputy mayor and Queenstown lakes councillor - recalls his father did not talk much about the war until he was older.

''He told me that he took a money purse off a dead Turkish officer. One thing he did mention was the comradeship. He did get emotional on Anzac Day and this is when he seemed most affected by those days in the war.''

Mr Reed talks with pride when looking at the collection of memorabilia his father brought home from the front line.

This includes a photo of him in his full regimental uniform, a Princess Mary Christmas box, which was sent to all those serving in the trenches, a bullet pencil and a Turkish officer's beaded money bag.

''It is great that I can pass this to my son and it makes me so proud of what my father did. I just wish I had been more interested in it when I was a child and gained the wealth of information from him when he was alive.''

John Reed was awarded a medal after sustaining a minor injury at Gallipoli.

This is one of Taylor's most precious pieces and he still wears it in his father's memory on Armistice Day.

Museum director David Clarke said it was imperative people continued to understand the impact of World War 1 on Wakatipu.

Of the 288 people from the district who served overseas, 85 never returned.

''Glenorchy was hardest hit and from a population of 150 in 1916, 25 men lost their lives,'' Mr Clarke said.

''Those who remained behind found their lives consumed with fundraising, knitting and sewing to support those fighting on foreign fields.''

The exhibition runs from October 25 to February 15 and proceeds will be shared with the Queenstown and Arrowtown RSAs.

- Louise Scott

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