WHEELS OF WAR AND COURAGE: ANZAC DAY AT PACKARD MOTOR MUSEUM
On Friday April 25th, the Packard Motor Museum once again remembers ANZAC day. We think of the soldiers, their courage, endurance, and also the mateship of the young men sent out from NZ and Australia to face war.
The ANZACs began as a combined military force formed during World War I They are most famously associated with the Gallipoli campaign of 1915, where they landed on the shores of the Gallipoli Peninsula in modern-day Turkey
The ANZACs were also prominent during WW2. However, unlike WWI, the ANZAC Corps wasn’t a single combined force, but both countries contributed significantly to the Allied war effort, often fighting alongside British and other Commonwealth troops
The Australians and New Zealanders played major roles in several key campaigns across Europe, North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Pacific Australian troops took part in battles such as the famous Tobruk (where the “Rats of Tobruk” earned fame for their defence against Rommel’s forces) and El Alamein, where troops helped stop the Axis advance
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New Zealand forces fought in the Greek and Crete campaigns (1941), where they were involved in fierce defensive battles against German paratroopers The New Zealand 2nd Division played a key role in the Italian Campaign, especially in brutal battles like Monte Cassino, where they helped break through the German defensive lines
For us at the Packard Motor Museum, we also remember the vehicles used by the ANZACs
We have our Daimler Armoured Car – a later model of the Dingo that ANZAC troops would have used Also, our Canadian Military Patterned Chev Blitz, along with the wellknown Willy’s Jeep. This year we will again have several of our military vehicles on display in our carpark for people to see in use W h D i l A d C
We will be open from 1pm to 4pm on Friday 25th April, so come and visit
PACKARD MOTOR MUSEUM
THE ANZAC RITUAL
The Anzac Day ceremony of 25 April is rich in tradition and ritual It is a form of military funeral and follows a particular pattern The day’s ceremonies have two major parts: one at dawn and another, more public event, later in the morning
THE DAWN SERVICE
A typical commemoration begins with a march by returned service personnel before dawn to the local war memorial Military personnel and returned servicemen and women form up around the memorial, joined by other members of the community Pride of place goes to war veterans
A short service follows with a prayer, hymns (including Kipling’s Recessional or Lest We Forget), and a dedication that concludes with the fourth verse of Laurence Binyons For the Fallen:
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
The Last Post is then played, followed by a minute’s silence and Reveille
A brief address follows, after which the hymn Recessional is sung The service concludes with a prayer and the national anthem
THE ANZAC PARADE
Another ceremony takes place later in the morning of 25 April Returned service personnel wear their medals and march behind banners and standards The veterans are joined by other community groups, including members of the armed forces, the Red Cross, cadets, and veterans of other countries forces
The march proceeds to the local war memorial, where another service takes place, and various organisations and the public lay wreaths
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn
This is a more public commemoration than the dawn service less intimate and less emotional. The speech, usually by a dignitary, serviceman,
or returned serviceman or woman, often emphasizes nationhood and remembrance
After these services, many veterans retire to the local Returned and Services Association (RSA) club or a hotel, where they enjoy coffee and rum (in the case of the dawn service) and unwind after an emotionally and, for elderly veterans, physically exhausting event At the end of the day, the ceremony of the Retreat is performed
Source:
Source: https://nzhistorygovt nz/
AnzacDaydawnserviceatKerikeriDomain’smemorialwall,25April2023 PHOTO/PeterdeGraaf
TheWhangareiparadegetsunderwayatAnzacDay2024. PHOTO/MichaelCunningham
LEST WE FORGET
lookout for some awesome volunteers to join our Day Programme cr This is a fun and varied role where you'll b supporting our amazing staff and helpin clients/club members take part in engag games and activities.
Be part of something special while havin a great time!
We're open Monday to Friday, from 10am
ANZAC DAY COMMEMORATIVE EVENING SERVICE AT THE WAITANGI TREATY GROUNDS
The Waitangi National Trust, in partnership with the 28 Māori Battalion Taitokerau Association (A Coy), are hosting an Anzac Day Commemoration Service at the Upper Treaty Grounds. The 28 Māori Battalion has a special connection with the Waitangi Treaty Grounds as the soldiers were present at the Centennial of the Treaty Signing in 1940 before going to war in Africa and Europe
The Anzac Service starts at 5pm with a parade up the Nias Track by the Leadership Academy of A Company, followed by He Tikanga Karakia He Tohu Whakamaharatanga / Anzac Day Commemorative Service in front of Te Whare Rūnanga A Field of Remembrance consisting of 569 memorial crosses with the names of Māori service personnel killed in action and buried overseas will be
laid on 22 April and will remain in place for visitors to view two weeks post-Anzac Day
This years’ Service centres on the theme of Sacrifice and Service, paying tribute to the dedication of New Zealand veterans who have served in conflicts and peacekeeping missions since the Second World War Since WWII, our Defence Force has served with courage and commitment from the Korean and Vietnam Wars to peacekeeping efforts in the Sinai, Bosnia, TimorLeste and the Solomon Islands. In Afghanistan, New Zealand forces played a critical role in reconstruction and security, with ten personnel making the ultimate sacrifice Today, the New Zealand Defence Force continues to respond to global challenges, including disaster relief, peacekeeping and maritime security
This ANZAC Day, Waitangi invites the public to reflect on the ongoing service of our veterans and reaffirm our shared commitment to peace
Anzac Day allows the opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of all New Zealanders’ during times of war Men, women and children all played their part either on the front line or on the Home Front supporting those who went to war while ensuring the country, marae and whānau were in the best shape possible More information on the Māori Home Front can be found inside Te Rau Aroha Museum of the Price of Citizenship.
The Anzac Day Service at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds is a free public event The gates at Hobson Memorial at the Upper Treaty Grounds open at 4pm
NORTHLAND’S ANZAC HEROES: REMEMBERING OUR BRAVE SOLDIERS
As ANZAC Day approaches, communities across Northland gather to honour the men and women who served in times of war.
Among them are remarkable individuals and groups whose courage and sacrifice continue to shape our region’s history. From the trenches of Gallipoli to the battlefields of World War II, Northland’s ANZAC heroes have left a lasting legacy.
The 28th (Māori)Battalion: Northland’s Proud Warriors
One of the most distinguished groups of Northland soldiers served in the 28th (Māori) Battalion, a highly respected unit in World War II
Drawn largely from iwi across Te Tai Tokerau, these warriors fought with extraordinary bravery in North Africa, Greece, Crete, and Italy Among them was Sir James Henare (1911–1989) of Ngāpuhi a commanding officer who played a key role in the battalion’s success After the war, Henare became a leader in the revitalisation of te reo Māori and a staunch advocate for Māori development. His leadership on and off the battlefield continues to inspire Northlanders today
Percy Valentine Storkey VC: A Hero’s Bravery
Another remarkable Northlander was Percy Valentine Storkey, who was born in Napier but raised in Northland
Storkey earned the Victoria Cross (VC) the highest military honour for bravery during World War I In April 1918, near Bois de Hangard, France, he led a daring bayonet charge against a German machine-gun position, capturing 50 enemy soldiers with only a handful of men His courageous actions saved many lives and contributed to a crucial victory After the war, Storkey pursued a successful legal career in Australia, but his legacy as a Northlandborn ANZAC hero remains significant
The Northlanders at Gallipoli
The Gallipoli campaign of 1915 saw many Northlanders among the ranks of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force (NZEF) These soldiers endured some of the most brutal conditions of World War I Among them were young men from Whangārei, Dargaville, Kaikohe and Kerikeri, many of whom never returned
Their sacrifice is remembered at memorials across Northland, including the Whangārei Cenotaph and the Mangonui War Memorial.
The Brothers Who Served
Many Northland families had multiple members serving in the armed forces, including the Broughton brothers and the Tauroa family, whose sons fought bravely in both world wars. Their stories, passed down through generations, reflect the deep commitment of Northland families to defending New Zealand and its allies
