One-hundred-and-seven white painted crosses were planted to honour the lives of the local fallen soldiers in World War I during a moving Field of Remembrance service in Masonic Park yesterday.
John McDonald, who was accompanied by his sister Jill Rice, planted a cross to honour their great-uncle Private Reg Watkins, who was killed on the Western Front on July 23, 1916.
Before the crosses were planted, the ground was blessed by the Reverend Kotene Pihema and he read the dedication, which was accompanied by two bagpipers playing the ode.
Mr McDonald said his great-uncle was the brother of his grandfather, Lewis Watkins, who also served in World War I and returned home to live in Tauranga, dying on his 80th birthday in the 1970s.
"This is a very special commemoration for our family, and I feel honoured to be able to be part of this remembrance service - to honour Reg's life and the sacrifice he and the other men made," he said.