As part of discussion over commemorations of WWI, there continues to be opposing opinions on the use of red poppies and white poppies during the Anzac period. The White Poppy Appeal was controversial, with Veterans’ Affairs Minister Judith Collins stating to The Dominion Post in 2011 that the appeal was “incredibly disrespectful to those who served their country” and “Peace Movement Aotearoa should be ashamed of themselves.”
The red poppy is worn in many countries to serve as a remembrance of battlefield deaths since the time of WWI. The plant was one of the first to grow in the soils of Flanders Fields on the Western Front. New Zealand’s Returned and Services’ Association (RSA) began making their own red poppies in 1931, with disabled former servicemen in Auckland and Christchurch making them. In 2012 most New Zealand poppies were made in China and assembled in Australia.
Don McIver, President of the RSA, said all of the money raised by the Red Poppy Appeal is “committed to the care and support of veterans and service people and their families.” $1.7 million was raised in April 2014 by the Red Poppy Appeal. He says that none of the funds raised go to the national office, which is funded by capitation and merchandising of products. “The money should not be used for anything other than welfare,” he says.
The white poppy is used as a symbol of peace, remembering the civilian casualties as well as those who fought. They were first produced by the Co-operative Women’s Guild in Britain in 1933, and later the Peace Pledge Union took over their annual distribution. White poppies later spread to other countries around the globe and the white poppy became an international symbol of remembrance (for civilians and armed forces) and for peace.
In New Zealand, the annual white poppy appeal was run as a fundraiser for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in Wellington around the time of Hiroshima Day in August. Responsibility for organising the annual appeal was transferred to Peace Movement Aotearoa, as part of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament’s closing down process in 2008. This was on the understanding that the use of the white poppy would revert from August to April, around the time of Anzac Day. In a statement by Peace Movement Aotearoa, they said, “This was in response to requests from Peace Movement Aotearoa members and member organisations over the years to change the time of the appeal to be more in keeping with the original message of white poppies and [that] it would be a national appeal from 2009 with the proceeds going to the White Poppy Peace Scholarships.”
White Poppy Peace Scholarships are available to tertiary students studying in New Zealand. Each grant is a minimum of $1,000 – one is for a Maori or Moriori student, with the others open to any student with New Zealand citizenship or permanent residency. The scholarships are to assist with the costs of research into: the impacts of militarism, militarisation and warfare; alternatives to militarism, militarisation and warfare; or media coverage of militarism, militarisation, military deployment and/or armed conflict.
In regards to the use of the White Poppies, McIver of RSA says, “it is wrong to suggest that the RSA is promoting war and violence.” He says, “We are the people who have been there and we don’t want to see it again.”
He disagrees with the White Poppy Appeal being used at the same time as the Red Poppy Appeal and says, “I question whether there is a need for [the White Poppy Appeal] at all.” He says that he has received feedback from the public expressing concerns about the White Poppy Appeal, believing the sale of them is “not appropriate.” He says, “Some people will express it far more strongly than I.”
Roger McElwain, Deputy Chairman of the WWI Governance Committee, said there will be commemorations in Dunedin City to remember the 100 years it has been since the first group of soldiers left Otago on 22 September 1914. In regards to the White Poppy Appeal and the Red Poppy Appeal, McElwain says that he “does not see it as white versus red.” He explains that it is just a difference in perspective. McElwain says, “A lot of people wear red, some wear white and others don’t wear either. I believe in both.” He does not have a problem with the White Poppy Appeal because he says, “some people see the red poppies as commemorative of WWI. Others say we should view WWI as a terrible event, which it is, and so we should put our focus into peace. The white poppy symbolises that.”
Professor Tom Brooking, from the University’s Department of History and Art History and a member of Dunedin Council WW100 committee, says it is “perfectly valid” to have the White Poppy Appeal running at the same, highly relevant time. He explains “it is important to commemorate all the civilians in war.” He believes that the RSA has to “start figuring out how they can bring in younger people.” Most people who were old enough to fight in WWII will now be in their 80s, “at the youngest.” Brooking suggested the organisation is at a point where it has got to “rethink its functions.”
No sense of history
Brooking from the WW100 committee discussed the “great efforts” that the committee were putting towards commemorating WWI. Toitū Otago Settlers Museum will start the commemorative events with the opening of their WWI exhibitions on 1 August 2014, almost exactly 100 years after WWI began.There will also be events in the first week of August and on 27 and 28 September to mark the first contingent of soldiers embarking from Otago and Southland. On Sunday 28 September the Museum will hold a range of other events, including a talk by historian Chris Pugsley. Brooking says the events are a week later than when they should be because “the Prime Minister has no sense of history,” meaning the events would have coincided with the 20 September 2014 elections. There will be a Memorial Run on the morning of Sunday 28 September at 9.30am, commencing from Tahuna Park. Behind the runners, cyclists will follow to commemorate the New Zealand Cyclist Corps, which was established in 1916. A WW100 Memorial Parade will follow from the Oval, commencing at 11 am.
The WW100 committee plans on having a major event each year for the duration of the Centenary, with Gallipoli the focus in 2015, the Somme in 2016, Passchendaele in 2017 and the German Spring Offensive and the Hundred Days Offensive in 2018. Over the commemorations for the next few years, there will be additional events, essay competitions and talks.
The Ministry of Culture and Heritage has dedicated $27 million to the organisation of commemorative events. Out of the 27 applications that have been approved nationwide, 25 of them were from Otago and Southland.
Where is our Roll of Honour?
Despite the commitment that the University shows towards remembering those who fought for our freedom, they have failed to establish a Roll of Honour – a list of names of people from the University who died serving in the war. 2010 Critic Editor Ben Thomson first brought attention to the missing commemoration in his eighth Critic editorial, yet action is yet to be taken. The University of Auckland has a Roll of Honour and, over the next three years, will be making it available online.Professor G.E. Thompson’s A History of the University of Otago, 1869–1919, written for the University’s golden jubilee, lists 552 students or former students, 21 staff members, and one member of the University Council who left New Zealand for active service in the First World War. The University has said that there may well be some who were missed from the list and at the time of print, were unable to locate a number for World War II either. In total, approximately 1,900 Dunedin men died in WWI.
McIver of RSA believes that the Roll of Honour is important to have at the University because “it is a reminder of the sacrifice made.” He says, “We are especially concerned about having young people involved so a Roll of Honour is a way of progressing that understanding amongst younger people.” He explains that despite the commonly held belief of young people being apathetic, he says that since the Student Volunteer Army was formed in Christchurch following the earthquakes, “attitudes are changing.” RSA awarded the Student Volunteer Army with the Anzac of the Year award in 2012 and McIver believes the whole country was very positive about the reaction they saw from young people. “The majority of youth are great people.” Interestingly, it appears McIver is also aware of RSA’s need to adapt to a younger generation of people.
In response to whether the University intends on introducing a Roll of Honour, Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne said, “Otago is New Zealand’s oldest University — our students, our graduates, and our staff have made important contributions to this country for almost 150 years. I applaud any initiative that helps us to document those contributions — including a Roll of Honour that recognises those who paid the ultimate price to their country.”
OUSA President Ruby Sycamore-Smith is equally enthusiastic about the idea, saying, “It is really great to honour those who fought for us. It would be a great opportunity to recognise previous students who were a part of important New Zealand history.” She hopes the introduction of a Roll of Honour could be a joint effort between OUSA and the University in the near future.
