The war dragged on news was continuously bad, and there were few homes in New Plymouth unaffected. At another 'very large public meeting' convened in Everybody's Theatre by Mayor Burgess on August 5, 1918, another resolution was carried unanimously, expressing the determination of the people 'in this darkest hour before the dawn to continue the war to a victorious end' in maintenance of those ideals of Liberty and Justice which are the common and sacred cause of the Allies. ' Peace came as a surprise: 'Not even the most optimistic ever dreamt that the end of the war was so near at hand,' wrote F. T. Bellringer, the town clerk. 'Yet on November Ist we were celebrating the unconditional surrender of Turkey and this was followed a few days later by that of Austria. On the twelfth of November came the news of the Armistice with Germany ... the people gave full vent to their long-restrained feelings and the two days of joyous congratulation and thanksgiving will never be forgotten by those who took part in the celebrations.' The Daily News recorded that New Plymouth 'did itself proud' with a thanksgiving service in Pukekura Park in which more than 10,000 people took part. But the celebrations took their toll. No doubt the accumulation of so many people helped to spread the pandemic of influenza, and before the year was out New Plymouth, in common with the rest of New Zealand, had lost more lives through this disease than it had during the four years of massive tragedy of war.
Twenty years on: Within three minutes of receiving word that Great Britain was once more at war with Germany, New Zealand declared war from 9.30 p.m. on Sunday, September 3, 1939. The Government's action was approved by Parliament two days later, and once more patriotism was at high level. 'Where Britain goes we go; where she stands we stand,' proclaimed Prime Minister Savage, and once more New Plymouth men (and later women) volunteered for service. More sons and brothers and fathers were sadly, but still proudly farewelled; some were veterans of the 'war to end all wars.' But the war was still many thousands of kilometres away from New Plymouth. And although New Zealand's participation in the Battle of the River Plate was a matter for general rejoicing, the shadow of war, at first, fell lightly on the town. By the end of 1940 the 'phoney war' was over; military and naval disasters were common; things were going very badly in the Middle East, and citizens were called on to tighten their belts in many respects. Rationing of some items of food began again. In December the Minister of Supply, D. G. Sullivan, called for 'every man, woman and boy in the Dominion' to assist in the war effort by reclamation of waste scrap metal and paper. This campaign was prosecuted vigorously, and from New Plymouth trainloads of old farm equipment, car parts, obsolete drilling equipment and other waste metal were sent to Wellington and Auckland. 'Waste' paper was also collected by the lorry-load, and often included family and company records, thus depriving history of much valuable material Among the first occupants of the newly-built Waiouru Military Camp were several New Plymouth men. At the RNZAF training camp at Bell Block, the No. 3 Elementary Training Flying School stepped up its programme. And No. 10 Company of the National Military Reserve was formed, holding practices in Lewis gun training in the Drill Hall. In the midst of these warlike activities the town took time off in April, 1941, to celebrate the centenary of the arrival of the first settlers at Ngamotu in the William Bryan. Four busy days included open-air services, a re-enactment of the landing when the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, inspected the guard of honour and was given civil and Maori welcomes; Paritutu Centennial Park was officially opened; a grand ball was held in the Agricultural Hall; there were reunions of settlers' families; a musical festival attracted a full house in the Opera House, and schools were given a two-day holiday 'against Education Department regulations governing half-days off.
In January, 1941, the Taranaki Herald began publishing a weekly 'Overseas News Sheet Airmail' off our tabloid pages 'to keep Taranaki men overseas in the closest possible touch with happenings at home.' Circulation was 1000, of which 90% were posted direct to soldiers serving in most theatres of war. It contained items regarding welcoming war invalids and men on leave, lengthy lists of battle casualties, accounts of court actions against conscientious objectors; news about rehabilitation plans, the Home Guard, decorations won by New Plymouth soldiers, and a regular births and deaths column. Almost three pages in serial form were devoted to the hunt on the West Coast for Stanley Graham in October, 1941, following his killing four policemen and two Home Guardsmen, which resulted in his own death after 13 days of drama. Regular features of the airmail paper were full descriptions of the few race meetings which were allowed; rugby, cricket, boxing, soccer, rowing and other sports; lodge meetings, local politics. It ceased publication on March 31, 1946. It was the entry of Japan into the war in late 1941 which shook New Plymouth-and the rest of the country-to real action. Conscription for total war was the order of the day. Fear of invasion was very real: gun emplacements were built around-and in-the city (the foundations of one exist on the greensward surrounding the 'first ships' obelisk in Ocean View Parade); the Home Guard, originally a civilian organisation, received its uniform which closely followed the style worn by overseas forces, and became part of the military. This force enlisted most of the male population who were old enough to bear what weapons could be acquired. These ranged from old Martini carbines to a few short-magazine Lee Enfields. Emergency precautions schemes were introduced; partial blackouts were called for; footpaths were limewashed as an aide to pedestrians in the darkness. Trucks, cars, motorcycles and even some bicycles were commandeered; headlights were hooded.
Rationing became more severe. Butter, meat, sugar and clothing coupons, though liberal compared with similar restrictions in Britain, were irksome, as they came during the comparatively short period following the depression when, for perhaps the first time in its history, New Plymouth had seemed on the threshold of real prosperity. Wages and some price controls were imposed; shops were short of most supplies-including staff; some small businesses went out of existence as their proprietors left for active service. Women were called to serve in the armed forces; others were manpowered to drive trucks, to work in shops, offices, industry and on farms. Street wardens inspected trenches dug by citizens as a precaution against 'shock raids' and householders were urged to have a supply of iron rations sufficient for 10 days and a supply of water; to wear identification discs, and were warned to stay put until plans were put into effect 'for the individual and common good.' On a personal level the war broadened the horizons of New Plymouth. It became a town populated mainly by children, old men, and women. Airmen stationed at Bell Block sought relaxation and entertainment in the town, as did American marines and army troops. Building had long ceased and hotel accommodation was scarce. At weekends all hotels were booked out by visiting American military men. Girls and some wives of serving men also felt the strain of the war, and they too sought and found comforts which were frowned upon the more 'respectable' citizenry. They were seen drinking in hotels, wearing lipstick in the streets, and 'provocative' clothes. By 1943, after Allied successes in North Africa, men who had served three years abroad were granted furlough. Many found conditions had changed and domestic troubles arose. But the war was still 'on', and although many New Plymouth soldiers were still fighting in Italy and Europe, the emphasis of effort concen- trated on the Pacific Theatre. Two more years of war weariness, and Germany surrendered on May 8, 1945. And on August 14 the long struggle ended with victory over Japan, and New Plymouth, along with the rest of the 'free world,' began celebrating. Men from New Plymouth also served in other wars: Korea, the Malayan 'emergency' and Vietnam. Although there were casualties, the effects of these hostilities were hardly felt in the town. Gatherings of ex-servicemen and women in clubs, associations or reunions are very much a feature of New Zealand life. First meetings of the New Plymouth Soldiers' Club were held in the municipal chambers early in this century. Members consisted of returned men from the Boer War (the South African War Veterans' Association was not formed until after the First World War), and their activities were mainly of a social nature and to pick up the threads of wartime experience. Because of their greater numbers, the more intense quality of their war experiences and the fact that they found it more difficult to adjust to civilian life, survivors of the 1914-18 war formed the Returned Soldiers' Association in 1917, opening its membership to Boer War veterans. Soon it was making its influence felt with many local authorities, including the borough council, and through the New Zealand RSA the Government on such matters as land settlement, the handling of patriotic funds, the payment of compensation for disabled servicemen, and pension schemes. First president was Alexander Morris McDiar- mid, captain commanding the 14th Reinforcement, a New Plymouth dentist. Under his leadership the associationjealously guarded its rights, as items in the first minute book indicate: On July 15, 1919, a complaint was made to the New Plymouth Peace Committee that' a distinct slight has been put upon the returned soldiers inasmuch as no invitation was extended to them for the peace celebrations.' Legal action was taken against Jack Johnson 'for wearing an RSA badge, he not being a member of the same.' In August a special meeting of the executive thanked 'the public of New Plymouth for having so generously handed over to the Association as a free gift the Soldiers' Club in the Municipal Buildings, together with the sum of £144 ($288) . A move on the part of Maoris to form their own returned men's association was averted when the RSA invited all who wish to join .
Returned nurses are eligible to join this club. It is resolved that this club be kept entirely free from political action.' Typical of feelings of the times was the association's resolution in August, 1919, which said: 'That this Association views with alarm the possibility of Professor Von Zedlitz being reappointed to his former position at Victoria University, feeling that this action is in direct contravention of the principle of Britain for Britons. Zedlitz was a high-born German. Educated in England, where he established a reputation as a humanitarian and a literary genius, he came to New Zealand in 1902 and became Professor of Modern Languages at Victoria University and a member of the professorial board. He was prominent in the university reform movement, and was also official translator to the Government. On the outbreak of World War One his offer to return to Germany as a Red Cross worker aroused great controversy, which resulted in him being removed from his university positions in October 1915 under the Alien Enemy Teachers Act. The New Plymouth RSA, and many similar bodies' resolutions, had little effect, and Zedlitz was reappointed, later to become a prominent lecturer and broadcaster in adult education until his death in Lower Hutt in 1949. 'Although it was a cause celebre in its day, the Zedlitz case has now' only an academic significance. It was an excellent example of legislating in response to mass hysteria.' Among the many dedicated and hard-working officers of the RSA was Bernard Wicksteed, great-grandson of John Wicksteed, the man who helped to shape New Plymouth's destiny as agent for the New Zealand Company in 1842.