Story: Africa and New Zealand

Bathing in the Suez Canal

Bathing in the Suez Canal

Members of New Zealand's First World War expeditionary force are shown here bathing in the Suez Canal. It is likely that this group are with the Mounted Field Ambulance, of which photographer Jack Peat was a member. For many of the young New Zealanders involved in the war it was an adventure and a chance to visit places they would never otherwise see. This contact with Africa was fleeting and did not substantially alter New Zealand's relationship with the continent. Like many New Zealand soldiers, Jack Peat died in Egypt and was buried there.

Using this item

Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira
Reference: Peat Album 259, p. 21, n.1
Photograph by John Trevor Peat

Permission of the Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Megan Cook, 'Africa and New Zealand - Colonists, soldiers and sportsmen: 1800s to 1940s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/35905/bathing-in-the-suez-canal (accessed 30 April 2024)

Story by Megan Cook, published 20 Jun 2012