Day of remembrance, hope
Young families solemnly stood side by side with military veterans at the crack of dawn across the deep south yesterday in observance of Anzac Day.
In the true Anzac spirit, the heads of New Zealand and Australian defence forces stood shoulder to shoulder against a staunch Wellington wind and agreed the world was in a perilous position.
Anzac Day 2024 fell 109 years after New Zealand and Australian troops landed on the beach at Gallipoli in Turkey, but at the same time as global strife – most notably Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and a battle between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
About 5000 people gathered on a blustery morning at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park in Wellington yesterday to commemorate the New Zealanders and Australians who served in the wars, as Anzac Day services were held across the country. An NH90 helicopter did a flyover of the Wellington service while in Auckland Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was among those who attended the dawn service. It is the last Anzac Day that Air Marshal Kevin Short, New Zealand’s Defence Force chief and his Australian equal, General Angus Campbell, attend an Anzac Day in the top jobs. Both men are retiring in coming months and decided to spend this Anzac Day together in Wellington.
Speaking after the ceremony, they were asked if the world was in the worst condition, with current conflicts, they had seen in their long careers. “There have always been small skirmishes around the world that do lead to some wars throughout the whole time I’ve served,” Short said.
“This is the first time I’m seeing it scatter around the globe ... I just worry about the values that people have, the values that countries live by and I hope that humanity comes to its senses.”
Campbell said the global situation was “serious” but the chiefs agreed we were not looking at the start of World War III.
“That would be a dreadful, catastrophic outcome and ... I think that many many people in many countries would work every day to prevent that kind of outcome,” Campbell said. Short added: “I think it will get to the stage that it will worry everybody globally, but I do think that through engagement, through the United Nations and other systems that it should never happen.”
Strong winds caused the cancellation of other services in Wellington. “It is very unfortunate that we have had to cancel today’s service due to high winds,” said Leauanae Laulu Mac Leauanae, secretary chief executive for the Ministry for Culture and Heritage.
Meanwhile, contingents of the New Zealand Defence Force were commemorating Anzac Day abroad alongside members of the Australian Defence Force. In South Korea, 12 New Zealanders working with the UN attended a dawn service at the Korean War Memorial in Seoul.
Three officers stationed with the UN in South Sudan were set to gather in Juba with Australians. They had specially commissioned Anzac biscuits from local caterers, and were to hold a service and breakfast.
Defence Force personnel training recruits for the armed forces of Ukraine were scheduled to hold a service with representatives from Australia, Britain and Ukraine at Codford Cemetery in the UK, where 66 New Zealanders who fought in World War I are buried. In Turkey, plans for the Gallipoli memorial services hit a snag when almost all of the contingent’s luggage was held up in Dubai because of flooding.
The Defence Force had to change its plans for involvement in services there after just one band instrument and a few dress uniforms arrived in Turkey, leaving most staff with just carry-on luggage.
“It is disappointing for everyone but we are determined to ensure our Chunuk Bair service honours those who fought here at Gallipoli,” said leader John McLeod. “Our outstanding vocalist, Lance Corporal Bryony Williams, will sing anthems without accompaniment and we have a guitar to support our Māori cultural group in singing waiata.”
Thousands of people turned out to pay their respects to the fallen at services throughout the region yesterday. The Southland Times photographers Robyn Edie and Kavinda Herath were there to snap some of those taking part.