Great War Stories Gallipoli tortoise
During her time working at the Aotea Convalescent Home in Cairo (1915-1919), New Zealand nurse Nora Hughes was given a tortoise by a wounded soldier who said he had found in the trenches at Gallipoli in 1915. When Sister Hughes returned to New Zealand in 1920 she brought the tortoise with her. Peter, as the tortoise became known, was a beloved family pet until his death in 1994. He is now immortalised in a children’s book written by Nurse Hughes’s great-great-niece Shona Riddell.
Short films telling personal stories about New Zealanders affected by Gallipoli and the First World War.
Primary Title
- Great War Stories
Episode Title
- Gallipoli tortoise
Date Broadcast
- Monday 12 February 2018
Duration
- 03:28
Series
- 3
Episode
- 5
Channel
- Internet
Broadcaster
- New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage
Programme Description
- Short films telling personal stories about New Zealanders affected by Gallipoli and the First World War.
Episode Description
- During her time working at the Aotea Convalescent Home in Cairo (1915-1919), New Zealand nurse Nora Hughes was given a tortoise by a wounded soldier who said he had found in the trenches at Gallipoli in 1915. When Sister Hughes returned to New Zealand in 1920 she brought the tortoise with her. Peter, as the tortoise became known, was a beloved family pet until his death in 1994. He is now immortalised in a children’s book written by Nurse Hughes’s great-great-niece Shona Riddell.
Classification
- Unknown
Owning Collection
- Chapman Archive
Broadcast Platform
- Television
Languages
- English
Captions
Live Broadcast
- No
Rights Statement
- Made for the University of Auckland's educational use as permitted by the Screenrights Licensing Agreement.
Notes
- Research and scripts: AC Productions. Images, historic video and further sources: Archives New Zealand and National Library of New Zealand. Originally broadcast as a segment of TV3 News (now Newshub), MediaWorks Television.
Subjects
- World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, New Zealand
- World War, 1914-1918--Campaigns--Turkey--Gallipoli Peninsula
- Soldiers' writings, New Zealand
- Documentary television programs--New Zealand
Genres
- Biography
- History
- War
Contributors
- Hilary Barry (Narrator)
- Anna Cottrell (Director)
- Anna Cottrell (Producer)
- AC Productions (Production Unit)
- NZ On Air (Funder)
Subjects
- World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, New Zealand
- World War, 1914-1918--Campaigns--Turkey--Gallipoli Peninsula
- Soldiers' writings, New Zealand
- Documentary television programs--New Zealand