Although comparatively small in size, the New Zealand Expeditionary Force of World War I was considered an integral part of the British Empire forces that came together to defeat the Central Powers. Military experience in the Great War proved crucial in transforming this small British dominion in the South Pacific, which had only been extensively settled by Europeans for some 80 years, into an independent nation with its own identity. As dutiful citizens of the British Empire, more than 100,000 New Zealanders, out of just 243,376 available men of military age, enlisted to serve overseas in the defence of 'King and Country' - some 10 per cent of the total population, and 20 per cent of the male population. Of the 59,483 total casualties, 18,166 were killed or died of wounds. The significance of this sacrifice becomes clear when compared even to those of Australia and Canada, from which dominions some 13 per cent of the male population saw military service overseas.
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