The History Interest Group (HIG) meets on the 3rd Monday of the month: 10.00 - 11:30 at the Birdwood Cafe Birdwood Avenue, Beckenham. We are interested in exploring a wide range historical events/topics/themes (including global/ international, New Zealand, Canterbury, ancient and modern). Our meetings always start with a straw poll from the previous topic. In February we had discussed the English Civil War and for our March meeting it was the question; Was Parliament justified in executing Charles 1 in 1649. Nine said yes and for 6 it was a no (with one abstention). But as always in history, a lot of discussion and probably those numbers may well have shifted if we had continued. The topic for the March meeting was the Easter Rising in Dublin 1916. A wide range of resources had been sent out for the group to view (including recent research on the role of women in the rebellion). It was a lively discussion and we jumped about a lot and this is as it should be. History is a complex business with a range of perspectives and is not for the faint hearted. It is also typically bigger than one place and one time. The Easter rising and New Zealand are linked. At the Gallipoli campaign in 1915 the ANZACs had fought alongside Irish Catholic soldiers - namely the Dublin Fusiliers and the Irish 10th Division. At the same time that the Irish Volunteers and British were fighting in Dublin (24-29 April 1916), Australians and New Zealanders were on 25 April commemorating the landing at Gallipoli - the first ANZAC day - in NZ and Australia and London. ANZAC day is the topic for our next meeting. And what it means to each of us personally. While the maximum number for our group is 20 (and we are currently not taking new members) there is a waiting list and if you are interested in all things historical please contact the convenor.
