Family to retrace Wairarapa march to war

GRUELLING: Members of the 20th Reinforcements marching across the Rimutakas on their way to Trentham. PHOTO/FILE

Descendants of World War I soldiers who trained at the Featherston Military Camp are being invited to walk a journey their ancestors took in a re-enactment march this spring.

The reliving of the gruelling walk the soldiers took from Featherston, up and over the Rimutaka Hill before heading out on boats to serve overseas, is being held as a special centennial commemoration. It will take place on September 27.

Former army chef Robert "Tweet" Bird came up with the idea, and said he was inspired "quite simply" by a photo.

The photo was of soldiers from members of B Company of the 22nd reinforcement group marching over the hill in 1917.

"I thought to myself that is an impressive photo and those soldiers are marching into the unknown," said Mr Bird, who joined the NZ Army as a regular cadet before he was posted to serve in the Vietnam War.

He said it would be poignant to remember the men and women who trained in Featherston who left for the front and never returned.

Infantry usually trained between six to eight weeks there while mounted riflemen and artillerymen did virtually all of their training at the camp.

During this time groups of 2000 soldiers would march over the Rimutaka Hill to ships bound for World War I.

Of the 60,000 soldiers, 17,000 servicemen and women were killed overseas.

"As part of this special World War I commemoration we are calling for descendants of these brave people to help us re-enactment the amazing march they completed ... the last march they ever completed on New Zealand soil," said Mr Bird.

At a special launch at the Returned Services Association in Featherston yesterday, Mr Bird outlined his plans for the re-enactment.

The walk will be completed in three stages.

Stage one will begin at dawn at the site of the former Featherston Military camp and see descendants of World War I veterans march the 2.9km into Featherston to lay a wreath. They will then march 10.8km up the Rimutaka Hill to the summit where they will have breakfast and unveil a newly created remembrance memorial. Then they will march the 8.9km down the Wellington side of the hill to finish at Kaitoke.

Following the march, participants will be ferried into Upper Hutt where they will march through the streets before laying a second wreath at the Upper Hutt Town Hall.

Following this, the group will head to the Trentham Army Camp where there will be an Open Day with displays from members of the Defence Forces.

Colonel Nick Gillard from 1 Brigade of the NZ Defence Force said they would have 50 members taking part.

South Wairarapa mayor Adrienne Staples said it was probably the most important project in decades.

"For South Wairarapa and Featherston in particular this is very dear to their heart."

People who believe they have a link with soldiers from World War I can check online at www.aucklandmuseum.com/war-memorial/online-cenotaph.

To register your interest, contact Mr Bird, on 027 4439 044 or email: thecrossing19151918@gmail.com

Donations towards the running of this event can be made on givealittle.co.nz

If your ancestor was in the infantry and joined up between September 1915 and May 1918 it is likely he will have done 'The Crossing'. The first group to march was the 7th Reinforcement and the last was the 38th Reinforcement, if your ancestor was part of any reinforcement group between these numbers it is likely he marched.