The Nation Remembers 1914-1918

All work in the city was abandoned. People in their thousands poured out of factories, shops, offices and homes to a raucous chorus of ships’ sirens, motor horns and pealing church bells. Red, white and blue bunting suddenly appeared on public buildings as joyous crowds made their way through the city to Parliament Grounds.

That was Wellington on 11 November 1918 after news of the armistice that ended the Great War of 1914-18.

But 90 years later silence reigned for two minutes at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month but for one bell. High up in the Carillon tower of the National War Memorial, the 12 tonne Peace bell (Rangimarie) tolled 11 times over the city at the commencement of the Armistice Day National Commemorative Service.

This year saw a two-part service. the first part beginning with a prologue read by Colonel (Rtd) Andrew Renton-Green, Chairman of the National War Memorial Advisory Council, where he recalled the return home and the horrific casualties.

A tri-service vigil guard stood vigil at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior to honour the soldier whose remains were brought home from the Western Front. His Tomb was the focal point of the Service’s wreath-laying signifying his spiritual relationship with all his fallen comrades. Governor General Anand Satyanand and his wife Susan laid the first wreath on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen, as the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul choir sang Laurence Binyon’s poem For the Fallen.

As the Last Post sounded, New Zealand and British flags on the forecourt were lowered to half mast and the Ode for the Fallen recited in Maori and then English by Hawea (Guv) Grey, RNZRSA Maori Ex-services representative, and Robin Klitscher, RNZRSA National President.

Robin Klitscher and Guv Grey recite The Ode at the National Armistice Day Service

For its second part the service moved into the Hall of Memories as Father Chris Skinner sang his Sons of Gallipoli. the National flag, the RNZN’s White Ensign and the RNZAF’s Queen’s Colour were slow marched in and placed in the sanctuary.

Readings and music followed. Canadian High Commissioner Penny Reddie recited In Flanders Fields, Chris Skinner sang On the Road to Passchendaele, and Mr Satyanand read a 1919 speech by then Christchurch Mayor Dr Henry Thacker when welcoming troops home. The choir sang E Pari Ra and Karamu High School student Raphael Mobegi winner of the 2008 RNZRSA National Secondary School Speech Competition read an extract from World War I veteran Stan Stanfield’s oral history.

The solemn, but not mournful service concluded with a very moving rendition by the choir of I Vow to Thee My Country.