Rimutaka marchers' movie makeover

FITTING OUT: Mark Bateman is shown how to wrap puttees correctly by WingNut Film costume assistant Paul Booth (pictured) during a fitting of replica WWI uniforms supplied by the film company.

A small platoon of marchers completing this month's Rimutaka Re-enactment March will be wearing uniforms supplied by the makers of Lord of the Rings.

WingNut Films will fit out 30 of the 250 registered people set to mark 100 years since soldiers marched from the Featherston Military Camp over the Rimutaka Hill to awaiting ships in Wellington harbour bound for war.

Event organiser Robert (Tweet) Bird, a former NZ Army chef, hopes the uniforms will create a heightened awareness around the march and make for a spectacular sight.

"We are thrilled to have the support of WingNut Films in allowing our marchers to step out in the same uniform as the thousands of WWI soldiers would have done 100 years ago," said Mr Bird, who will be marching in a replica major's uniform.

WingNut Films Caro Fenton said the replica WWI tunics and trousers were made from wool and featured webbing, wide brimmed "lemon squeezer" hats made by Hills Hats in Petone, hobnail leather boots and puttees, a narrow piece of cloth wrapped around the lower leg to provide support and protection.

At a recent uniform fitting in Wellington, marchers were shown how to wrap the puttees correctly, a task Mr Bird said could be tricky even for the most experienced of soldiers.

William Matheson who is in the Air Training Corp at Trentham is one of the 30 who will march in the replica uniform. Mr Matheson was looking forward to honouring the soldiers who went before him including his great grandfather, Donald Munro Matheson, who was in the 1st NZ Light Trench Mortar Battery.

"It's special to wear this uniform and remember those from WWI."

The Rimutaka Re-enactment March will be held on Sunday, September 27.

Of the 250 marchers, about 160 are direct descendants of soldiers who trained at Featherston.

Other marchers are made up of cadets and members of the New Zealand Defence Force.

The marchers will set off from Camp Road just north of Featherston at 3am.