danausmc
04-19-2005, 07:00 PM
As you will all know, I have through the Regimental Association, been involved in arranging a Memorial Cairn for the Auckland/Northland Regimental Association, to honour all past and current members who served in the Regiment since inception in 1898. The idea originated in 1997 - a year before the Centennial Celebrations. The most historical moment in the military history of New Zealand is the landing on the Galipolli Peninsula in Turkey, with the Australians in 1915. The Regiment contacted the Turkish Government, and asked if it would be possible to obtain stones from the landing site at Anzac Cove at Galipolli, to be used in the construction of the Memorial. This was agreed to very early, and following came the hard work of obtaining permission to build the Cairn itself, in a suitable location. All of this took more than seven years, but it is now a reality. At time of writing, the Cairn is in its final stage of construction, and ready to be unveiled on Anzac Day (25th April) this year. It will be a grand event, with a large military parade, the colours will be marched on and the main speaker will be the Chief of General Staff. I am so very pleased that the serving Regiment and the Regimental Association have managed to complete this task, and it will be standing for all times as a memorial to all who served with the unit through all those years, not least to those 7,000 members who perished during the two world wars. I hope you will all appreciate the pictorial attachment, and for those of you who may not recognise me due to years past, or any other reason, I am the guy on the right side of the photo holding that corner of the Battalion Flag. Regards.............Carlo