Sacrifice of Chinese Anzacs marked on Sunday

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

THE World War 1 service of Chinese Anzacs will be honoured at Combined Services Day outside the RSA on Sunday.

Mayor Meng Foon, as part of the service and with the support of the local Chinese community, will hold a Gisborne launch of the publication Chinese Anzacs, written by British military historian Alastair Kennedy.

Mr Foon, also the president of the New Zealand Chinese Association, said the book launch was significant.

“This is a very important event for Chinese New Zealanders as it shows that we, as New Zealanders, also made the ultimate sacrifice for our country alongside our other brothers and sisters in the armed forces.”

The book tells the story of Chinese citizens who came to New Zealand in the “earlier days”, registered and took up arms to defend king and country.

The number of Chinese people who were citizens in the 1914-1918 period was low as the Government made it difficult for them to become citizens, and there was strong community opposition to them doing so.

Mr Foon said 50 percent of naturalised Chinese New Zealanders served in the forces. Most signed up for the army.

“So we gather this Sunday at the Gisborne RSA with our colleagues and commemorate this important day in memory of our New Zealand Chinese Soldiers who fought gallantly in World War 1.”

Gisborne RSA president Ben Tahata said Combined Services Day replaced the former Air Force, Army and Navy Days once held annually.

“Each of these days are significant commemorations and ‘we will remember them’ on our Combined Services days at the RSA.”

Combined Services Day is held on the closest Sunday to Armistice Day, November 11, the day in 1918 which brought World War 1 to an end.

The service will be hosted by Lieutenant David McEwen, RSA padre, and begins at 11am, the time the armistice came into effect.

Those marching are asked to assemble at the Bright Street/Kahutia Street intersection by 10.45am.