Historical society talk on Anzac Day

Speaker delves into the origins of remembrance day first held 108 years ago

It was 108 years ago when the first Anzac Day took place — 12 months after New Zealand and Australian troops landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula. For this month’s Kāpiti Historical Society talk they have decided to focus on that day of remembrance, with Roger Childs speaking of the origins, commemoration and controversy of Anzac celebrations.

“Growing up in Karori in the 1950s and 1960s I marched in many Anzac parades as a Cub and a Scout, along with local Brownies, Guides and boys and girls brigade members and veterans of the two world wars and the Korean conflict.

“There were also at least a couple of bands and it was a journey of more than 2km from the Karori Post Office to the cemetery and hundreds of spectators lined the route.

“Then in the afternoon, I would head down to the Wellington Cenotaph for the big remembrance gathering in the city.”

On April 25, 1915 Anzac forces were dropped in the wrong place off the Turkish coast by the tiny beach of Ari Burnu — later known as Anzac Cove. After a mismanaged eight-month campaign which cost New Zealand

close to 8000 casualties, the soldiers were evacuated.

The troop ships arrived back in Egypt on December 26, 1915.

Upcoming historical society talks will include Jock Phillips talking about Māori reactions to royal visits to New Zealand, Bruce Taylor talking about the history of the Wellington rail network, Andrea Mark talking about 50 years of the Kāpiti Arts and Crafts Centre, Sam and Harion Stargazing Safaris in the Wairarapa, and Shane Cave on his involvement in UN anti-corruption investigations.

For more information on Kapiti Historical Society, contact Roger Childs at pamandroger.childs@gmail. com or Gordon Dickson at glengords@gmail.com.