Story: Armed forces

Call-up notice for service overseas, 1941

In 1941, during the Second World War, journalist Peter Bates received a notice informing him that he had been called up for service overseas with the armed forces. Those conscripted were obliged by law to present themselves for service. Conscription was used during both world wars because the number of volunteers did not match the needs of the war effort.

Bates served with the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He was captured by enemy forces and interned in a camp in Italy, from which he escaped to Switzerland. Bates wrote histories of New Zealand's war participation in Greece, Crete and Egypt. His account of the Supply Company was part of the official history of New Zealand in the Second World War, published by the War History Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs.

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Alexander Turnbull Library, Peter Watson Bates Papers
Reference: MS-Papers-4864-01

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Jim Rolfe, 'Armed forces - Historical overview', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/zoomify/35714/call-up-notice-for-service-overseas-1941 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Jim Rolfe, published 20 Jun 2012, updated 1 Apr 2020