Soldier making Anzac pilgrimage
Tū rangi-born officer travelling to Gallipoli for Anzac Day
ATūrangi-born officer is aiming to “close a little family loop” by travelling to Gallipoli in Turkey for Anzac Day commemorations. Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) Carlo De Negri is a career soldier who is making the trip to pay his respects to his great-grand-uncle, Teira Meti Kingi, who died in 1915 at Chunuk Bair.
Other members of the family saw active service, including another great grand uncle, Henare Mete Kingi, who was killed in the Battle of the Somme, and De Negri’s greatgrandfather, Nga Paki Mete Kingi who survived service at Gallipoli.
De Negri was able to commemorate Henare Mete Kingi during the 2016 Somme centenary commemorations in France and now looked forward to marking the service of his great-grandfather, who returned to New Zealand after his tour.
“My great-grandfather named his two daughters after the areas where his brothers passed away — Fleur is my great-aunt and my nanna is Dardenella, named after the Dardenelles.”
De Negri said his great-aunt and nanna never got to visit the places they were named for, so the trip was on behalf of the whole whānau.
“This is definitely a pilgrimage for myself. It’s good to close the loop after getting to travel to the Somme.
“Being able to serve in the same location as they did, as a soldier, it will be a humbling and emotional experience.”
De Negri was born in Tūrangi, spent some of his childhood in Italy and returned to New Zealand to attend school in Whanganui.
He joined the New Zealand Army in 2000 as a gunner with the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery and has been deployed to East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq during his career. He has spent most of his career based at Linton Military Camp near Palmerston North, where he is now a career manager.
A 40-strong contingent representing the NZ Defence Force arrived in Turkey several days before Anzac Day to prepare for the ceremonies.
The itinerary has included battlefield tours to educate the members about their predecessors and their bravery in battle.