Marchers move crowd as Anzac Day dawns

BY PAUL SAVAGE

Aucklanders gathered in their thousands to remember Kiwi servicemen who lost their lives fighting on foreign soil.

The dawn Anzac service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum on Saturday commemorated the 94th year since New Zealand troops landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula in Turkey during World War One, beginning the hellish nine-month Gallipoli campaign.

Of the 8500 New Zealanders who took part in the Gallipoli campaign, 2500 were killed.

New Zealand service veterans who marched to the museum’s central parade ground were met with a wave of applause by the masses of Aucklanders who braved the cold, windy and wet April morning.

Those attending included mayor John Banks, Opposition leader Phil Goff and Defence Minister Wayne Mapp.

The trio laid a wreath at the foot of the cenotaph, before the lights illuminating the area were dimmed for a minute of silence.

Mr Banks read a letter sent home by 25-year-old Lance Corporal Robert Carville Bett who saw combat at Gallipoli. He then re-enlisted and volunteered to fight on the western front, but did not return home.

"Dear mother, it was hell let loose," the letter read.

Amid its harrowing content, the letter described Lance Corporal Bett’s observation of the horrors of the western front, including being covered in the blood "of the man next to you".

Kiwi soldiers, airmen and sailors of all ages and ranks attended the service with their families.

A flyover by a Royal New Zealand Air Force Hercules aircraft had been planned, but it was announced on the loudspeaker that the aircraft was being repaired after flying two salt-water crocodiles over from Australia.

This was met with laughter from the crowd.

John and Ailsa Spicer of Manurewa were among those attending the dawn service.

Mr Spicer was impressed to see so many families there.

"It’s very pleasing that members of the current generation of people are interested in Anzac Day," Mr Spicer said.

Mr Spicer’s father served with the Auckland Battalion in the Somme in France during World War One.

Mrs Spicer’s uncle also served in the same area with the Otago Battalion.

– Paul Savage is an AUT journalism student

- © Fairfax NZ News