Anzac men gone, but not forgotten

TANYA KATTERNS/The Dominion Post

TINUI TIES: Sue Forde, granddaughter of the Rev Basil Ashcroft who led the first Anzac service, and his great-grandson, Major Aaron Mikkelsen. Both took part in this year's Tinui commemorations.

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Emotions ran deep in the tiny Wairarapa village of Tinui as hundreds gathered in support of a push to make the settlement New Zealand's Anzac Day equivalent of Gallipoli.

More than 500 people came from throughout the North Island to remember - children in prams, old soldiers and family members of fallen soldiers.

Eighty Air Force members from Ohakea bolstered numbers at a service that several years ago had lapsed as an annual commemoration after most returned services personnel had left the area.

The village of just 16 houses hosted the world's first Anzac Day service in 1916. Its revival resulted in a strong show of support on Saturday.

Resident Rick Kellow said: "It is amazing that now, since word got out and the Air Force has thrown its support behind us, the popularity has returned. It bodes well for Tinui and the future of our commemorations."

Around the country, an estimated 10,000 people were at each of the services held in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland, with about 3000 in Hamilton and 7000 braving the cold in Dunedin.

A dawn ceremony at Anzac Cove in Turkey was attended by about 7500 people, including many young Australians and New Zealanders - much fewer than the 11,000 at last year's ceremony.

The man behind the push to give Tinui recognition and a continuing role as an important Anzac memorial site, Air Force Group Captain Shaun Clarke, said the area, taking in the rugged neighbouring Castlepoint beach settlement, bore a strong resemblance to the coast of Gallipoli.

"It is a place where the rocky shoreline bears the brunt of the sea and the wind blows. It is what we witness each side of Anzac Cove.

"This was the first place to hold an Anzac Day commemoration in the world and it is wonderful to see that so many people heard the call and came to this tiny town of Tinui to honour those who carried our flag in war."

The dream would be for numbers to continue to swell at the village and for as many as 20,000 people to stand before the names of the village's 48 war dead at the 100th commemorations, Group Captain Clarke told the hundreds gathered.

As the service drew to a close, many made the pilgrimage along the rugged, winding, tree-clad path to the first memorial cross standing 310 metres above the village on Mt Maunsell, a cross carried there in 1916 by the Rev Basil Ashcroft.

His granddaughter Sue Forde and great-grandson Major Aaron Mikkelsen said that to be part of the service and the push for greater recognition for Tinui was humbling. "It is such a special little community and the family connection makes it that much more special for us," Mrs Forde said. "I think my grandfather would be delighted to see that the nation was taking Anzac Day commemorations, which he began, so seriously."

- © Fairfax NZ News

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