Crosses pay tribute to WWI fallen

IN REMEMBRANCE: People walk among the newly laid crosses, one for each of the 304 Masterton soldiers who perished in World War I.

The Masterton community turned up to "farewell" its young soldiers last year - and turned up again yesterday to place memorial crosses in the ground.

About 400 people attended a ceremony in Masterton Town Square where 304 white crosses were erected in remembrance of each fallen soldier from the Masterton district in World War I.

The crosses, part of a nationwide memorial project by the Fields of Remembrance Trust, were made by members of the Henley, Greytown and Featherston Men's Sheds over six months.

The simple white crosses, each bearing a soldier's name with a poppy and silver fern motif, were placed by members of ATC 21 Squadron, Makoura College Services Academy and Wairarapa Youth Council.

The ceremony opened with speeches from Masterton RSA president Bob Hill and Mayor Lyn Patterson, who acknowledged the Men's Sheds' work and welcomed the descendants of the fallen soldiers.

Rev Merv Jones of St Matthew's Anglican Church invited the guests to cast their minds back to an occasion in August last year, when the community showed up to the same spot for Leaving for the Front, the re-enactment of the first Wairarapa troops departure.

"We remembered our young men as they went on a great adventure," Rev Jones said.

"Today, we're back again - and we remember 304 of those young soldiers who did not return.

"They were the young life blood of Wairarapa."

Rev Jones also mentioned the Wairarapa Anzac troops who landed at Gallipoli 100 years ago.

"It soon became clear our young soldiers didn't have a chance, as they were facing an enemy which was grossly underestimated."

The crosses were handed to the ATC squadron, academy and youth council members by members of Henley Men's Shed, to represent the passing of history between the older and younger generations.

Helped by RSA members, the young people planted the crosses in the grassed area, accompanied by songs from the era sung by Masterton South Rotary Singers.

The crosses were blessed by Rev Jones and Mike Kawana of Rangitane o Wairarapa.

Overall, the Men's Sheds made 544 white crosses, one for each Wairarapa soldier killed in the war.

The crosses for the southern Wairarapa will be laid throughout the next week.

The crosses will be displayed every Anzac Day until 2018.