No burying the past at capital cemetery
Seventeen white crosses have been pushed and hammered into place by the Friends of the Bolton St Cemetery in preparation for the Anzac Day celebrations.
The crosses in the Wellington cemetery mark the headstones of soldiers who served in World War I.
This year, the Friends have adapted their customary self-guided tour around the memorials to be an Anzac challenge self-guided walk. Covid-19 had put a stop to pamphlets containing the map, and the information sheet attached to each grave site.
Instead, white crosses will mark the graves and the Friends website will provide the map and a short biography of each soldier.
The challenge will be finding them amongst the 9500 graves in the cemetery.
Most servicemen share a headstone with their grandparents or parents. Fifteen have an inscription, one is buried with his brother, and one had no inscription at all.
Richard Brandon is a descendent of Percy Brandon, one of the WWI veterans now buried in the cemetery. He was touched the Friends had gone to the trouble of celebrating the servicemen. ‘‘It’s extraordinary. They don’t get anything out of it, they do it for the greater good and, in doing, so preserve a tiny corner of Wellington’s history.’’
Brandon was familiar with the cemetery which winds down from Anderson Park into Wellington City. He walked past the family plot on his way to work and enjoyed the beauty and tranquillity of the area.
‘‘It’s a special place, we are so lucky to have it in the centre of Wellington.’’
Tending the tombstones was a labour of love, and Priscilla Williams had been a Friend for 18 years.
Along with the other members of the group, she was a keen historian, an amateur detective, and enjoyed nothing more than crossreferencing information, updating records and, before Covid-19, running the occasional tour of the cemetery.
‘‘The servicemen’s graves are historically interesting. We discovered one soldier had lied about his age and made himself younger so he could join the war.’’
Established in 1977, it is the longest-serving group supporting a cemetery in New Zealand.
It gave them all great pleasure to look after the servicemen and they hoped the people of Wellington would enjoy the Anzac challenge. The white crosses will be visible until May 4.
Further details about the group, the walking map, and brief descriptions of the servicemen can be found at boltoncemetery.org.nz/history.
1.
Which New Zealand prime minister pledged wartime support for Britain with the words: ‘‘Where she goes, we go’’?
2.
In what country did New Zealand forces serve overseas for the first time?
3.
Which two Japanese-occupied countries were connected by the socalled Death Railway built by prisoners of war in World War II?
4.
Complete the title of a World War I marching song: Pack Up Your Troubles In Your Old …
5.
New Zealand’s first involvement in the Vietnam War consisted of what: an artillery battalion, an engineering contingent or a surgical team?
6.
The 28th Battalion of the New Zealand Army was better known by what name?
7.
In which country would you find the town of El Alamein, scene of a decisive battle in World War II?
8.
What was the surname of the officer who commanded the Wellington Infantry Battalion at Gallipoli and was killed at Chunuk Bair?
9.
In World War I, who or what was Big Bertha?
10.
The Battle of Maleme Airfield, which involved New Zealand soldiers, was fought on what island?
The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra will commemorate Anzac Day with a free streaming tomorrow of its performance of New Zealand composer Ross Harris’ acclaimed Symphony No 2, featuring soprano
Madeleine Pierard.
Harris’ work, with settings of poems by New Zealander Vincent O’Sullivan, remembers Kiwi soldiers who were shot for desertion in World War I. O’Sullivan’s deeply felt descriptions of violence, love and tragedy are reflected in this moving and dramatic piece.
The streaming is a filmed performance of the NZSO’s 2016 concert at Wellington’s Michael Fowler Centre, led by the orchestra’s principal conductor in residence, Hamish McKeich.
Tune in to live.nzso.co.nz at 3pm tomorrow via smart TV, mobile phone, tablet or computer.