Great War Stories 3 - Gallipoli tortoise
- Documentary
- War
- NZ History
This edition of Great War Stories accompanies author Shona Riddell to Berhampore Primary School in Wellington, where she reads her story of a pet tortoise that she grew up with. It was taken from the trenches of Gallipoli by a soldier, gifted to hospital nurse Nora Hughes (Riddell’s great aunt), then transported to New Zealand, where the tortoise’s adventures didn’t end: he made local news on a walkabout to Mangatainoka Brewery. The series of short documentaries screened during TV3’s nightly news, as part of centennial commemorations of World War l.

Website for Shona Riddell's book Tale of the Anzac Tortoise
Shona Riddell on the real life Peter the tortoise, The Wellingtonian, April 2016
Service details for nurse Nora Hughes, Auckland Museum website
Tortoise tales from WWl, plus links to further info, NZ History website
Another true life WWl tortoise tale, Hawkes Bay Today, April 2018










