Welcome to the Archibald Baxter Memorial Trust online.
Archibald Baxter is New Zealand’s best-known conscientious objector, and father of poet James K. Baxter. Archibald steadfastly endured the suffering caused by his decision to reject military service during the First World War. Transported to France and exposed to the horrors of frontline warfare, Archie and his fellow objectors have left New Zealand a legacy of principled resistance to war that is today more relevant than ever in our conflict-ridden world.
Aims
The purpose of the trust is to promote peace education and peace studies at all levels of the community.
The trust has three specific aims:
To organise an occasional peace lecture to be given in Baxter’s name.
To establish a physical memorial in Dunedin to remember those who stood for peaceful alternatives to conflict and war. The memorial will take the form of a garden and walkway where visitors can reflect on the experience of Baxter and his companions and their reasons for rejecting war.
To promote reflection on Archie’s stand against war in Otago schools through activities such as competitions and publications.
Patron
Ian Fraser
Trustees
Honorary Prof Kevin Clements (chair)
Katherine Baxter
Tony Eyre
David Grant
Penny Griffith
Alan Jackson
Prof Richard Jackson
Dr. Paul Sorrell
Hon. Chris Finlayson