When the call came in 1914–18, the Borough was not slow in its reply, and, as ever, there were many who followed the flag to the ends of the earth—and beyond.

Those who stayed behind were quick to offer material aid, and, headed by the Mayor, Mr. J. W. McEwan, they quickly raised a sum of £8,000. In addition, £500 was raised for Petone men when they returned, and the names of those who did not come back were perpetuated on a monument of New Zealand stone, set in the Recreation Ground.

The following Petone men made the supreme sacrifice:— Rfm. G. Abbott, Dvr. S. Allender, L/Sgt. H. L. Andrews, Sgt. H. Ashton, Pte. V. Ball, Tpr. H. Barber, Pte. I. G. Bassett, Pte. P. R, Bond, Pte. H. Booth, Tpr. C. Bovd, Pte. J. R. S. Birback, Pte. R. Carene, Pte. R. Cargill, Pte. W. Cargill, Lieut. A. P. Castle, Pte. S. Clark, Pte. E. W. Clarke, Tpr. A. A. Clarke, Pte. A. Coles, Capt. C. Collett, Pte. D. Collins, Gnr. A. D. Colquhoun, Gnr. G. B. Dent, Gnr. H. C. De Ridder, Rfm. R. J. Dixon, Lieut. W. M. Duncan, Pte. H. Durose, Pte. V. E. Edlin, Pte. J. K. Eiffe, Rfm. T. H. L. Englert, L/Cpl. F. G. Eyres, Gnr. L. M. Falla, Pte. J. Fox, Pte. A. F. George, Pte. F. Harrison, Major N. F. Hastings, Gnr. C. W. Hebbend, L/Cpl. M. R. Henry, L/Cpl. V. W. Hewson, Rfm. E. Hoare, Pte. J. A. Hoare, Pte. A. J. Hooper, Rfm. G. S. Hooper, Sgt. H. Hodgkinson, Lieut. W. J. Home, Gnr. T. K. Hunter, Pte. J. W. Hurly, Gnr. J. Hutchinson, Pte. A. E. Jackson, Sgt. R, S. Jones, Pte. W. Johnson, Pte. S. L. King, Pte. C. J. Kent, Gnr. E. R. Kirk, Pte. L. V. Kirby, Pte. F. G. Kingdon, Cpl. A. A. Ludlow, Pte. J. Ludlow, L/Cpl. R. H. Lines, Pte. J. G. List, Pte., C. T. Loader, Pte. H. A. Macdonald, 2/Lieut. J. S. Marsden, Rfm P Mellor, L/Cpl J. Mills, Sgt. A. Minifie, Rfm. T. D. Mockford. Pte. R. F. Moore, Pte. R. E. Morrison, Rfm. J. Mullany, Pte. V. N. Mullany, Pte. W. R. McKenzie, L/Cpl. C. T. Mutton, Cpl. J. H. Murray, Pte. J. J. H. Murray, Rfm. R. McArthur, Pte. J. McConnell, Pte. H. A. McDonald, Pte. S. McFarlane, L/Cpl. W. McEwan, Rfm. C. J. McGregor, Chapln. J. J. McMenamin, Rfm. H. Naughton, Pte. T. Ninness, Pte. T. Nelson, L/Cpl. L. W. Northover, Pte. A. Norling, Dvr. W. Okeby, Sgt. D. O'Leary, Pte. A. R. Packard, Gnr. E. A. Parr, M.M., Pte. L. C. F. Percy, Pte. P. C. Powell, 2/Lieut. L. Reeve, Pte. W. Ryan, 2/Lieut. R. A. Savage, L/Cpl. R, A. Scrimshaw, Pte. J. Shea, Gnr. C. Simons, Sgt. W. A. Simmons, Pte. F. W. Simpson, Pte, F. Smith, Rfm. H. M. Smith, Pte. A. Stevens, Pte. E. Stephens, Pte. J. H. Still, Pte. Sullivan, Pte. C. R. Symes, Pte. F. E. Symes, Pte. C. Tait, Cpl. Taylor, Pte. S. Taylor, Pte. P. Tannahill, 2/Lieut. A. M. Thomson, Rfm. I. M. Thomson, Sgt. J. H. Tollison, Gnr. E. G. Turner, Spr. H. Turner, Cpl. J. Robertson, Pte. E. H. Valentine, Pte. T. H. Vincent, Pte. W. F. Waite, Pte. D. Wilson, Pte. R. Wilson, L/Cpl. G. Wood, Pte. S. Wolland, Rfm. L. S. Young.