Stories of Anzac

Stories unfolded and were retold, friendships rekindled and military might displayed during Anzac Day 2016 celebrations on Monday 25 April.

Although less attended both at Pukeahu National War Memorial Park and at Wellington cenotaph than for last year’s historic celebrations there were still good numbers who braved the clear autumnal conditions to mark the day and remember the wars New Zealand has been a part of.

Remarkable 102-year-old Mrs Evelyn Hutchins of Newlands who was an Air Force transport driver in New Zealand during WWII defied age once again to ascend the Wellington cenotaph stairs to place a wreath.

Ninety-five-year old Lawrence Penney of Brooklyn reflected he thought he might have been the only WWII veteran at the Dawn Ceremony at Pukeahu.

Mr Penney recalled he had been a prisoner at Changi prisoner of war camp in Singapore during the war.

Geoffrey R. Moss who served on the HMS Achilles and HMNZS Bellona during World War Two continued as he has been doing for the past 13 years to accept wreaths on behalf of the Wellington RSA.

Staff at Pukeahu National War Memorial explained this year’s Anzac celebrations centred on the anniversary of Battle of Jutland in World War One with a focus on the war on the western front.