War dead to finally receive recognition

There is a bright side to the controversial decision to remove Napier’s war memorial – the names of dozens of fallen soldiers who did not appear on the memorial will appear on a planned replacement.

An eternal flame and Roll of Honour were removed from the city’s conference centre, which was upgraded this year, with no clear plan where they would go.

Napier City Council faced a backlash from residents and has agreed to build a new memorial at one of three sites, yet to be chosen, in Marine Parade.

The Roll of Honour, a series of stone plaques, featured the names of 576 soldiers who had fallen: 211 in World War I, 364 in WWII and one in the Vietnam War.

The plaques and the eternal flame have been at a council depot for the past few months.

Cathy Dunn, collection assistant of archives at Napier’s MTG museum and gallery, had spent the past few weeks researching the names on the roll. While doing this, she discovered the large number of omissions, and other anomalies.

To date she has unearthed 10 names that could be added to the WWII roll, 15 that could be added to the WWI roll and a further eight soldiers about whom little at all is known.

It is early days, but the council is looking at designing and creating new plaques that would include all and any missing names.

‘‘We’re really at the beginning and we’d like to get the community involved in helping us find these names,’’ Dunn said.

‘‘The online cenotaph and other advances in technology since the memorial was last updated in 1995 have meant it is so much easier to find information.

‘‘It’s been a fascinating process. I’ve really become quite hooked. It’s a great opportunity to do something positive.’’

Dunn said she had been struck by ‘‘the sheer number of men lost just from this small area’’.

The old plaques would be offered back to the Returned and Services Association once new plaques had been made.

The council has $50,000 set aside for the new memorial project, but is investigating the likely cost of the options, which may exceed this. It intends to have the new memorial completed by next Anzac Day.

A public meeting at MTG Century Theatre next Tuesday evening will see the three site options discussed and debated.