To commemorate the centenary of World War I, we have developed an online timeline featuring material from the Auckland Council Archives collections. The timeline will be added to for each year of the commemorations and has now been updated to include information from 1917.

The timeline features excerpts from the official minute books of those local authorities in existence in the Auckland region during the First World War to provide an insight into how Auckland reacted and contributed to the war effort.

In 1917, a number of local authorities reported in their meeting minutes of correspondence from the Minister of Internal Affairs asking whether the authority controlled a cemetery and, if so, would be prepared to supply burial plots free of charge for members of the Expeditionary Force who died prior to their discharge. 

In January 1917, the Auckland City Council also received a letter from the Returned Soldiers Association asking if a piece of land could be allotted in the Waikumete Cemetery for the purpose of burying deceased soldiers.  Keeping the graves together would enable members of the association to ensure that the graves were well cared for in the future.  In March 1917, the Town Clerk recommended that a block sufficient for 300 plots be set aside for this purpose.  In August 1917, a plan showing the lay out of land for the burial of returned soldiers, memorials and entrance gates was approved by the association and the council.