Armistice weekend will celebrate French links

Living links between Cambridge and its historic French sister city will be centre stage at this weekend's eighth annual Armistice event in Cambridge.

The town is preparing for its annual invasion of military vehicles and troops for the weekend-long mix of commemorations and military displays.

Attending will be members of the Avrill family, whose relative Dr Leslie Averill played a key role in the liberation of the French town of Le Quesnoy from German forces in 1918 by New Zealand troops. He was the first soldier over the walls of the fortified town, earning the gratitude of its residents and a connection which eventually blossomed into a sister city relationship with Cambridge.

Events begin tomorrow morning as a Royal New Zealand Navy Seasprite helicopter lands. The gates to Memorial Park will open at 9am each day.

Waipa Deputy Mayor Peter Lee said there would be an impressive display of war memorabilia, tanks and battles re-enactments plus a parade of vehicles through Cambridge from 9.30am on Sunday.

Commemoration of the end of WWI and New Zealand's contribution to other conflicts would follow at 10am at the cenotaph.

The Victory Dance on Saturday at the Cambridge Town Hall will have a 1940s' theme.

For information visit www.armisticeincambridge.co.nz