NZDF personnel on emotional journey

A soldier guards the cenotaph during the Civic Service at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Photo/Jason Oxenham.

Members of the New Zealand Defence Force have embarked on an emotional journey of remembrance and commemoration, heading overseas to take part in Anzac Day services.

Over 500 New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) personnel headed to France, Belgium, Washington DC, Jerusalem, Canberra, Raratonga and London last Sunday to participate in services to be held this week.

For Sergeant Andrew Crisp, the journey to France will be a chance for him to pay his respects to lost family members.

"I have a grand-uncle who disappeared on the Somme and no one has ever seen him and his platoon since they went over the top.

"Normally in any battle the wounded would come back in dribs and drabs back to the trenches, but that was the last anyone ever saw of him," he said.

"That was my grandfather's brother. and within a year my grandfather was actually fighting over that same ground, so I just imagine he would have spent most of his time looking for his brother."

Mr Crisp said after 21 years of service in the military, the journey was the trip of a lifetime.

"I would like to go and find my great-uncle's name and I would also like to visit the area where he went over the top - to not only pay my respects, but to yell out his name a couple of times to try and call his spirit in."

New Zealand Air Force corporal Alice Gribben, who is part of the contingent heading to Belgium, said the trip was a "massive honour".

"I have got poppies and other memorabilia that I will be leaving at the gravesites of my family members. I will also be wearing replicas of the medals awarded to my family members."

The Anzac Day services, in which the NZDF will take part in, will be held on April 25 in Zonnebeke, Mesen, Ieper and Comines-Warneton in Belgium, and on April 25 and 26 in Longueval and Le Quesnoy in France.

Three New Zealanders have also travelled to London to take part in the dawn service at Hyde Park Corner, a wreath laying ceremony and parade at The Cenotaph, Whitehall, and a service of commemoration and thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey.

Petty officer writer (POWTR) Monique Jellick will serve as the royal wreath layer in the dawn service at Hyde Park Corner on April 25.

"I am nervous. We have been told to expect around 4000-6000 people to be attending, so it will be a big crowd. I am looking forward to it though, and it will be great to represent my country," she said.

"I have a couple of uncles who served in Gallipoli and my great great granddad died in the battle of Somme, so I will be representing them too."

Defence Minister Gerry Brownlee has also headed to Belgium to take part in Anzac Day commemorations. Mr Brownlee will be New Zealand's official representative at commemoration ceremonies held at key Western Front sites in Flanders.

On Anzac Day there will be around 400 New Zealand Defence Force personnel deployed on operations, UN missions or exercises overseas. While it will be a normal work day for most, the Kiwis deployed will attend Anzac Day ceremonies in Afghanistan, Israel, Lebanon and South Sudan.

New Zealand Defence Attaches and military personnel will attend services in the countries they are based including London, Singapore, Canada and Japan.