Guilford Military Servicemen - WW2

New Zealand was much less prepared for the Second World War than for the First because defence spending had been much reduced, especially in the Depression of the early 1930s. However, by mid-1940 some 20,000 men had embarked for overseas service with the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force (2 NZEF). They went first to the Middle East and Britain. Later many of them were also to fight in Italy.

New Zealand sent its first troops into the Pacific, to Fiji, in November 1940. After war was declared against Japan in December 1941, many other troops were also sent into the Pacific, though some were later transferred to Italy. The Home Guard in New Zealand was an important force until the threat from Japan eased in late 1943.

A total of about 105,000 men and women from New Zealand served overseas during the Second World War. Of those nearly 7000 died on active Army service and a total of over 11,000 in all services. Nearly 16,000 were wounded as well. Casualties were a much smaller proportion of service men and women than in the First World War.