Fatal injury epidemiology among the New Zealand military forces in the First World War
Nick Wilson, Jennifer A Summers, Michael G Baker, George Thomson, Glyn Harper
We studied injury-related mortality amongst NZ military forces in the First World War. Out of a total of 16,703 deaths occurring during the War (28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918), injury deaths predominated: 65.1% were killed in action (KIA), 23.4% died of wounds (DOW). During the course of the war, the annual mortality rate from injury (for KIA + DOW) per 10,000 NZEF personnel in the North Hemisphere peaked at 1335 in 1915 (Gallipoli campaign) and then peaked again in 1917 at 937 (largely the Battle of Passchendaele). Participation in the First World War was by far the worst fatal injury event in New Zealands history. Many of these injury deaths could be considered to have been preventable through: better diplomacy (to prevent the war), improved military planning to reduce failed campaigns (e.g., Gallipoli, Passchendaele), earlier use of protective equipment such as helmets, and improved healthcare services.
