Soldier dies as Last Post rings out over dawn service

Thousands braved the rain at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Picture / Martin Sykes

The Last Post rang over a sodden Auckland Domain today as medics worked feverishly to save the life of a fallen old soldier at the city's dawn service.

The man was a platoon commander with the company of old soldiers as they marched onto the parade ground in front of the Auckland Museum and War Memorial at 5.30am.

He was about to give an order for the old soldiers to halt and turn to face the cenotaph when he tripped and fell face forward onto the concrete.

He lay unmoving as police and medics rushed to help.

As the dawn service continued medics worked feverishly to save his life, giving him heart massage and resuscitation.

During the service the lights were turned out as a mark of respect to fallen soldiers from all wars, prompting a call from the people working on the fallen man to turn them back on.

Ambulance staff later confirmed he had died soon after he fell.

Torrential overnight rain abated briefly as the service was about to begin in front of nearly 20,000 people but as Defence Minister Phil Goff walked down to the steps onto the parade ground, the heavy rain resumed and lasted throughout the service.

The Auckland parade began as the old soldiers marched on at 5.30am but the start was delayed for a few minutes to accommodate Maori Television.

In a departure from the usual programme, a haka was performed before the national anthem was played.

New Zealand Army chaplain Colin Mason offered prayers for the courage of those who sacrificed so much on foreign soil.

"Today, we remember and salute those, who on Turkish soil, gave so much. As we pause here, we do so to honour not only their bravery, their sacrifice and their self-giving sprit, but to pause also to honour their desire to see peace in our world."

Auckland mayor Dick Hubbard laid a wreath on the Cenotaph before the Last Post was sounded, flags were lowered and the lights were turned off for a minute's silence in memory of the fallen.

Mr Hubbard did not address the parade because of the weather and the scheduled Air Force flypast did not happen.

The Auckland parade was shortened slightly because of the weather and the death of the old soldier, a veteran of the Malayan campaign

Parade co ordinator Des Harrison said in spite of the sadness of losing an old soldier as the Last Post sounded, it was encouraging to see the number of young people at the dawn service in such atrocious weather.

"It was fantastic with the weather. We are really pleased.

"Every year we get more and more young people. It is fantastic and look at the turnout with the weather. It is amazing," said Mr Harrison as he looked over the packed parade.

Rheannon Ashton, 10, said she was at the dawn service "remembering the soldiers who fought for us."

Alice Gallagher, 14, learnt about the Anzac spirit at school and said her first dawn service today meant a lot.

She said many people would not understand what it was like for soldiers to fight and die in a war.

"I don't think it is possible (to know) until it actually happens to you and you live it out. But it is nice to be able to get a hint of it."

For childhood friends Emma Stuart and Arianne Russ, both 15, being at the service was important to remember what New Zealand soldiers gave in all wars.

Emma Stuart, wore the medals of her grandfather, Darge Stuart, who she never met but who went to war with the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force.

"It is good to remember him and what he did to get these medals. He was fighting for our generations."

Arianne Russ, who attended her first dawn service today said the dawn service gave the chance to remember all the people who fought for their country.

"We wouldn't be here today if they hadn't risked their lives," she said.

In Wellington about 5000 young and old gathered at the Cenotaph in perfect conditions for the dawn service.

New Zealand RSA president Jim Windsor and his Australian counterpart laid a wreath at the foot of the cenotaph. Mr Windsor was overcome with emotion and was comforted as he was led away.

The ground shook as a gun was fired at 5.45am to herald the dawn. Hymns were sung and band music played.

Archdeacon Ian Bourne, Wellington RSA president Colonel D.W.S Malony, and RSA national president John Campbell gave speeches.

"We remember the sacrifices made by young, good men at Gallipoli 91 years ago," Archdeacon Bourne said.

"We remember all the men and women and many children when nations were at war, just because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Mr Campbell spoke of the ill-conceived campaign that was Gallipoli and the lives lost.

"We are honouring the Anzacs. We are not here to glorify war, but to remember that we value who we are and the freedoms we possess," he said.

"They did not die in vain. They fought for peace, freedom and democracy."

Mr Campbell said young New Zealanders did not realise how much it meant for the veterans to see them at the dawn service.

"The spirit of Anzac is as relevant today as it was all those years ago," he said.

He also asked the crowd to remember New Zealand's Vietnam veterans.

"They went because they were sent ... and they felt betrayed by the nation when they returned.

"We hope no New Zealander has to return to the country the Vietnam veterans returned to," he said.

Wellingtonian Sue Marlow, wearing replicas of her uncle's and grandfather's medals, travelled from Lower Hutt to attend the service.

"I came to remember my uncle and grandfather who died in the wars," she said.

"I will definitely be going to dawn services for the rest of my life. It gets to mean more the older you get."

Ms Marlow said her grandfather didn't claim his medals until he was 79 years of age, one year before his death.

"He didn't think he was worthy enough," she said.

Hannah McLaren, 22, said the ceremony, which was her first, was powerful.

"It gives you a sense of pride and belonging. It felt just right, it was awesome.

Seven-year-old Kate Montu, the great grand-daughter of the late, great Sir Howard Kippenberger who fought in both world wars, said the ceremony was exciting.

Her five-year-old sister Charlotte said she wanted to be a soldier when she grew up.

Their mother, Justine Kippenberger-Montu, the grand-daughter of Sir Howard Kippenberger, said the ceremony was a reminder of how good youngsters had it today.

Her husband, Clifford Montu said he hoped his kids would remember the service for the rest of their lives.

A vigil will be mounted at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior until 6pm tonight.

In Christchurch, Governor General Dame Silvia Cartwright laid a wreath in the rain at the city's memorial -- her last dawn service as governor general.

She told the crowd it was difficult for many New Zealanders to imagine the horror of war.

"The tranquil streets of Christchurch at dawn seem so very far removed from the terrible battlefields where so many New Zealanders lost their comrades and their lives while serving our country," she said at her last Anzac Day service as Governor-General.

"We remember all those men and women who risked, and lost, their lives to defend the country they love.

"From the shores of Crete to the jungles of Vietnam, we remember you," she said.

Around 20,000 visitors are expected to gather at the Gallipoli Peace Park on the Turkish Peninsula to mark Anzac Day. It will be a high tech event with audio-visual links to the main services at Anzac Cove, Lone Pine and Chunuk Bair.

More than 500 New Zealand Defence Force personnel are marking the day in various parts of the world including the Solomon Islands, Afghanistan, Korea, Malaysia and Sudan.

In Bamyan, Afghanistan, the New Zealand provincial reconstruction team is planning a traditional dawn service. Group Captain Steve Moore, says local dignitaries and aid agencies will be invited to join the troops in dawn commemorations which will start just after 4am local time. He says the service will be followed by a traditional hot breakfast. Then, it is back to work for the day, but Captain Moore says the troops are planning a barbecue for lunch and a hangi for dinner. He says the meaning of Anzac Day really hits home when New Zealanders are overseas, serving for their country.

Planned dawn services in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands, have been cancelled because of the curfew imposed to quell rioting. In Darwin, the threat of cyclone Monica has put services on hold.

- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB