Manawatū’s lost 898 remembered on Armistice Day
Of the 100,000 New Zealanders who fought for king, country and empire in the trenches of Europe during World War I, 898 young men from Manawatū never returned home.
Palmerston North’s Armistice Day ceremony yesterday was a chance for the community to remember their sacrifice. The ceremony, which was originally scheduled to take place by the cenotaph in Te Marae o Hine/The Square, was moved to the city’s conference centre in Main St because of the wind and rain. Lined with soldiers from Linton and Ō hakea, the room welcomed community members and veterans from New Zealand’s past and present conflicts and operations.
Wreaths were laid before the stage to commemorate the end of what was termed at the time ‘‘the war to end all wars’’.
Mayor Grant Smith outlined the significance of the ceremony.
‘‘While Anzac Day holds preeminence for remembering all of our wartime sacrifices, the commemoration of Armistice Day is dedicated specifically to the memory of World War I, when conflict took place on an industrial scale,’’ he said.
‘‘Palmerston North’s population was just shy of 13,000, with perhaps another 12,000 living in the surrounding rural districts.
‘‘The impact of losing so many lives was huge, and hardly a local family, household, workplace or community remained unaffected by the unprecedented level of loss.’’
The event also included an acknowledgement of six new street signs around Linton that are now adorned with poppies, as designated by the Poppy Places Trust.
These include Kupe Pl, Saigon Cl, Olympus Circle, Nui Dat Pl, Takrouna Gr and Tobruk St. All but one were named after key locations in New Zealand’s military history, spanning Europe to Southeast Asia. The exception is Kupe Pl, named for the Mā ori explorer who, in a New Zealand military context, encapsulates the indigenous people’s millennia-old connection to Asia.
Command Sergeant Major Lyall Mooney, 1 (NZ) Brigade, gave a presentation about the history behind the names. ‘‘These events have shaped the structure of our forces over the generations and, like Anzac Day, continue to play an important part in our society.
‘‘The Poppy Place Trust continues the great work in 2023, with additional signs planned.’’