For the past six months, Oamaru resident Graeme Leather and staff from the North Otago Museum in Oamaru have been researching old newspaper clippings and items in the museum vaults to put together a book detailing life in North Otago between 1914 and 1918, and they are now asking to hear from local residents to further their research.
Mr Leather said the book, which would have a North Otago emphasis and be sold only in North Otago, would be released in August next year, 100 years after news of the outbreak of the war reached New Zealand.
He added he would like to hear stories of how the news of events at Gallipoli and the end of the war were received in the area, because the focus of the book would be on the people who were left behind during the conflict, and what life was like for them.
''It's about the people who stayed behind. I think there have been so many books written about experiences in the trenches and Gallipoli. Nobody has really looked at what life was like for people who stayed behind.''
He was also particularly interested in finding out more about a memento fashioned specifically for Maheno locals who served overseas.
''Every area had its own Patriotic Community Organisation and when the men were discharged from the army, they were welcomed home with special little evenings and afternoons, but I read recently that Maheno were actually giving their men a little medal, and I would love to be able to get a photograph of one of them.''
Museum curator Chloe Searle said the museum would be interested in viewing any material related to the war that had a strong North Otago connection.
She said the museum would also commemorate the 100th anniversary and had begun to restore the Waitaki Roll of Honour as part of that.
''It was taken out of the War Memorial Vault in the early 2000s, and that is being restored in Auckland.''
She said the roll of honour was expected to be returned next month, and added that an online database of the North Otago memorial oak trees, which marked individual soldiers lost in the war, would also be developed for the 100th anniversary commemorations.
