Passchendaele commemorated

Lower Hutt will host a Passchendaele Centenary commemoration at the cenotaph on Saturday, October 14.

Organised by the 7WnHB Regimental Association of former army reserve soldiers and officers from the Wellington and the Hawke’s Bay, the Battle of Passchendaele commemoration will take place from 11am.

It comes two days after the national ceremony and Belgian Memorial unveiling at the Pukeahu National War Memorial Park.

Lower Hutt resident Campbell Sutherland, a former army territorial sergeant, is organising the local event.

‘‘Our battalion was a Territorial Force regiment of the New Zealand Army,’’ he said.

‘‘It was formed in 1964 during the reorganisation of the army by the amalgamation of the 5th Wellington Regiment and the 9th Hawke’s Bay Regiment.’’

A group of ex-members set up the regimental association, which today is an incorporated society to organise events commemorating the World War I campaigns in which their predecessors were involved, he said.

‘‘In February I was tasked with organising our event for Passchendaele and, from the start, we decided on Lower Hutt as the place to do it.

‘‘We wanted something out of town and having it on the Saturday will be more convenient for locals.

‘‘It’s very much a public ceremony and we are hoping there will be a good turn out.’’

The association is also holding a dinner on the Saturday evening at the Anzac Lounge of the Petone Working Men’s Club, with a turnout of 60 members expected.

‘‘The Hutt City Council had been supportive and Ray Wallace, the mayor, will lay a wreath on behalf of the community,’’ Sutherland said.

New Zealand Cadet Forces and the regimental association will meet and march at the cenotaph before a welcome by Sutherland, a prayer and an address by Colonel (Rtd) Nick Thornton of the Royal NZ Infantry Regiment.

The Last Post will play and, after a minute’s silence, the wreaths will be laid, the national anthem heard and a final march of the colours takes place.