Dannevirke: Anzac sacrifices still raw for family

Abbey Ross-Veale (left), wears miniatures of her great grandfather George Ross' World War II medals, grandmother Jill Ross wears her grandfather Cecil Anderson's World War I medals and grandson Hughin Ross-Veale wears his great grandfather Eric Anderson's World War II medals at the Dannevirke Anzac Day service at the Cenotaph.

Family is precious to Jill Ross and come Anzac Day the Maharahara grandmother had a lump in her throat as she remembered family members no longer here.

And the Anzac spirit extends across the Tasman, with Jill's nephew Garrick Griffin wearing a set of Jill's dad, Eric's, medals at a service in Geelong.

"I gave the set to Garrick as a wedding present 12 years ago and knowing he's wearing them at Anzac Day services over there every year is special," she said.

Katie Anderson (left), her son Eric and husband Bert photographed just before Eric left to serve in the Air Force in World War II. Photo / Supplied

At Dannevirke's Anzac Day civic service, Jill was proudly wearing her grandfather Cecil Anderson's World War I medals, the 1914-18 Star, Battalion medal and victory medal.

Cecil served with the Expeditionary Forces in Egypt from 1915 to 1918.

And although it is 100 years since that Great War, for Jill, the sacrifices of her grandfather and thousands of others is still raw today. "It's still real, what they did for us ... " she said. "I'll never forget what they sacrificed for us."

Cecil Anderson passed away in April 1954 and is buried in Dannevirke's World War I soldiers' cemetery.

Fortunately for Jill and her grandchildren, Hughin and Abbey Ross-Veale, her father had kept the family's war memorabilia safe in an old trunk and on Saturday they were able to wear the medals with pride.

"It means a hell of a lot to me to have these and pinning them on for Anzac Day is very emotional," Jill said.

"My dad, Eric, was a pilot officer and flight lieutenant in the Air Force and did a stint in Canada and West Africa as a rear gunner," she said.

Jill's grandson, Hughin Ross-Veale, wore Eric Anderson's World War II medals to the Anzac Day service, while his younger sister, Abbey had a set of miniatures of her great grandfather George Ross' World War II medals.

These included the Pacific Star, Defence medal, 1939 to 45 war medal and the New Zealand Service medal.