Welcome Sweet Peace: Returning home after the Great War
The journey home
'Tommy's English Bride', 27 February 1919, New Zealand Free Lance, New Zealand and Pacific Published Collections, Alexander Turnbull Library
The journey home
A total of 53,000 New Zealand troops were repatriated in the 12 months following the signing of the Armistice. The average sailing time from Britain back to New Zealand was six weeks.
Once on board, various activities were introduced to stave off boredom for the long journey ahead. Boxing contests were a regular feature on most ships, as were tug-of-war competitions, musical revues, and agricultural rehabilitation training lectures.
Also travelling on some ships were British women who were engaged to, or had already married, returning New Zealand soldiers. The SS Ruapehu brought 185 British wives and sweethearts to their new homes in New Zealand.
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