The Hokianga Historical Society is being strongly encouraged by Dr Kenneth Baker, a member who lives in Brussels, to join international commemorations of the beginning of World War I next year.
"He suggests that its effects would have been just as life-changing in the Hokianga as anywhere, and as a
small, isolated community, that would be well worth documenting," society secretary Alexa Whaley said.
"Off his own bat he started collecting the names of all who went from here, all who were killed, and all on the reserve lists. He has also offered to photograph the graves of all the Hokianga men who died in Europe, leaving a Hokianga memento [a flax flower] and a small card on each, and has strongly suggested that we should be collecting the family stories about the effects of the war while the younger generations who were told them might still be available. And we should produce a booklet."
Dr Baker will attend a meeting on Sunday, 2pm at the Hokianga Museum, where he is expected to describe the work going on in Belgium, France, England and Germany towards the commemorations in August.
Anyone who is interested in being involved will be most welcome.
