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Home / Northern Advocate

Veterans join crowd for remembrance

By Peter de Graaf
Northern Advocate·
20 Oct, 2014 11:00 PM3 mins to read

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More than 100 people, including two veterans of World War II, turned out for the remembrance ceremony.

More than 100 people, including two veterans of World War II, turned out for the remembrance ceremony.

The 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War I has been marked with the planting of 57 crosses in a Lawn of Remembrance at the Kawakawa RSA - one for each person from the district who served in what was then known as the Great War.

Among those at Saturday's ceremony were four Northlanders whose fathers fought in World War I and two veterans of World War II.

New Zealand occupied what was then German Samoa in August 1914 and in October sent an Expeditionary Force, initially bound for Europe but diverted to Egypt. On board were three Kawakawa men.

Pat Goodhue, who still lives on the Pokapu farm his father Arthur Goodhue bought in 1912, wore two of his dad's bravery and service medals. Like many veterans, his father "clammed up" about the war.

World War II veteran Gordon Coutts, who now lives at Waipu, fought across North Africa and at the battle of Monte Cassino.
Minister Glenys Davis leads the blessing.
Dorothy Halliday and Pat Goodhue carry crosses for their father and uncles who served in World War I.
Elma Reti's father Herbert Rigden (and Graeme Rigden's grandfather Frederick Rigden) fought in World War I.
Crosses were planted for each of the 57 Kawakawa servicemen who fought in the Great War.
Vietnam veteran and Kawakawa volunteer firefighter Norman Mackie.
More than 100 people, including two veterans of World War II, turned out for the remembrance ceremony.
Kawakawa RSA welfare officer Lloyd Lemon, left, and RSA Northland president Ian McDougall lay the wreaths.
Dorothy Halliday and Pat Goodhue's father Arthur Goodhue fought in World War I.
Pakaraka's Mike Plant of the Whangarei and Districts Pipe Band.

Image 1 of 10: World War II veteran Gordon Coutts, who now lives at Waipu, fought across North Africa and at the battle of Monte Cassino.

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"But it affected him until his dying day. He was gassed in the trenches, which affected his health, and had a lot of shell-shock. He could never settle down."

Mr Goodhue's sister Dorothy Halliday said their father fought on the battlefields of France and Belgium. Two of his uncles were killed at the Battle of the Somme.

She was "gobsmacked" by the number of people who turned out for Saturday's ceremony.

"It's great that they're doing this," she said.

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Bev Martin of Paihia knew only from photos that her father, James Dodd of Kawakawa, had served in Africa and been in hospital in England.

"He never spoke about it. He never, ever mentioned the war."

The father of Kawakawa 84-year-old Elma Reti, Herbert Rigden of Opua, enlisted in 1917 and served in France. He returned but her uncle George was not so lucky, dying in France or Belgium that same year.

Kawakawa RSA president Noeline Lemon said she was pleased to see so many descendants of World War I veterans at the ceremony.

Discover more

World War I sacrifice remembered in silence

11 Nov 06:09 PM

"It's important to remember what they have done for us," she said.

Of the 57 Kawakawa district servicemen and women who went to World War I, 15 lost their lives. In total, 120,000 New Zealanders signed up and 100,444 served, more than 10 per cent of the country's population at the time.

Two World War II veterans also took part in Saturday's commemorations. Originally from Kawakawa but now living in Waipu, 93-year-old Gordon Coutts fought in the 21st Battalion across North Africa and at the Battle of Monte Cassino; while Jack Maioha, 87, of Russell served in J-Force in the post-war occupation of Japan.

RSA Northland president Ian McDougall said many more events were planned around the district in the lead-up to the centenary of the 1915 Gallipoli landings. "It's a very important year, an important time for New Zealanders to reflect on something that had a profound effect on our country."

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