Bay group takes flight to Gallipoli
World War I veterans’ descendants anticipate tearful, overwhelming Anzac Day service on trip of a lifetime
Grandchildren and greatgrandchildren of World War I veterans have banded together to take a trip of a lifetime to Gallipoli in Turkey to commemorate Anzac Day.
The Hawke’s Bay group of 20 departed from Napier on April 11 on a journey to commemorate the 1915 landing and honour Kiwi soldiers.
They would spend time taking in the sights of Gallipoli before attending the eagerly awaited dawn service on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
Headed along for the trip is Monika Teepa who said she felt both nervous and excited when Hawke’s Bay Today spoke to her the day before the flight. “I already know I will be crying. “I will feel overwhelmed and I think it will be a reflective thing for me.”
Teepa had wha¯nau in the Ma¯ori Battalion who were lucky enough to return to Hawke’s Bay.
“We didn’t have any fallen soldiers.”
She decided to go with a group of people aged from the late 30s up to early 80s, “for the experience”.
“We are tagging along with a group of blessed people and we thought why not. It’s going to be a once-ina-lifetime opportunity.”
Teepa had always been interested in history.
She felt it was important to continue to recognise the sacrifice of the Anzacs.
“I have always been fascinated with our wha¯nau history, what they did and how they did it back in the day.”
After Anzac Day Teepa had planned to do more travelling with a friend and head to Egypt to visit the wondrous ancient pyramids.
The group will also take part in tours and Teepa planned to take a piece of Hawke’s Bay and New Zealand with her as a token of her appreciation.
She was taking a New Zealand flag, and had a selection of tea towels, magnets, and keyrings packed in her bags as gifts.
“I feel it’s nice to hand over something extra.”