With Anzac Day approaching researchers are hoping to locate two missing flags presented to the New Zealand Rifle Brigade in England in 1919 and are looking for help from the public.
"The flags were presented at the end of the First World War when the brigade left Brocton Camp at Cannock Chase, and a farewell parade was held through the streets of Stafford on 10 May 1919," says Neill Atkinson, Chief Historian, Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
"The flags, a Union Jack and a silk New Zealand Ensign, were presented by Mayor Joseph Rushton at Market Square. In return, a New Zealand flag was given to the town by Lieutenant Colonel N F Shepherd and initially kept at St Mary's Church in Stafford.
"In New Zealand the flags were reportedly used at military funerals. Later, to mark the 21st anniversary of the brigade, the flags were handed over to the National War Memorial Committee in October 1936.
"Members of the committee included Lt Col A Cowles, Councillor HAR Huggins, EE Muir, EC Hale, Robert Johnson, JH Hallewell and JG Osborne.