Veterans ready for Gallipoli

World War II veteran Jim Dunning is excited to be marking Anzac Day in Turkey instead of his customary Mt Maunganui. Picture / Dean Purcell

Every year for the past six years James Dunning has travelled from his Auckland home to his old town of Mt Maunganui to lay a wreath at the dawn service commemorating the Anzac landings at Gallipoli.

This year he's travelling a bit further.

"I was lined up to go to the Mount again this year, but I had great pleasure in telling them I wouldn't make it. 'I'll be in Turkey' I told them," said the 79-year-old.

Mr Dunning, who served in the Navy during World War II, is one of 35 veterans who will leave Wellington for Gallipoli to represent New Zealand at the 90th anniversary of the landings.

The Devonport man was one of 800 who put their names forward for a ballot to decide who would go with the official delegation.

Though he is not particularly looking forward to the travel, Mr Dunning said he was excited about the chance to visit the historic sites - and was keen to try some "good Turkish tucker".

But he was also acutely aware of how painful the visit and the dawn service at Anzac Cove would be.

"It always gets me. It's an emotional thing and this will be especially so being at the place it all happened."

Mr Dunning, who turns 80 in August, joined the Navy when he was 17.

At 18 he left New Zealand and spent three and a half years travelling the world. Two of those were during the war, when he served in the Indian Ocean aboard an aircraft carrier.

He will go to Wellington to join up with the other veterans and the rest of the New Zealand delegation before it leaves on Wednesday.

The 170-strong party also includes two representatives of the Returned Services Association, 10 high school students, three military cadets, 60 Defence Force personnel and a media contingent.

Among the Defence Force personnel, travelling on an Air Force Boeing 757, will be a Maori cultural group, band, Catafalque Guard and an Honour Guard.

Many of those are themselves veterans of recent peacekeeping operations.

The delegation will also include Chief of the Defence Force, Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson, and three MPs.

While in Gallipoli they will attend the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove, the New Zealand service at Chunuk Bair as well as the Australian, Turkish, British and French services.

Mr Dunning, a widower, said it would be a hectic 10 days but he was looking forward to having tales to tell to his four daughters and grandchildren.

"They're all tickled pink for me."

Commemorations

* To mark the 90th anniversary of the Anzac landings at Gallipoli, a 170-strong contingent departs from Wellington on Wednesday.

* The group includes 35 veterans, two representatives of the RSA, 10 high school students - winners of the Prime Minister's essay competition - three military cadets, 60 Defence Force personnel, a Maori cultural group and a media contingent.

* Many Defence Force personnel are themselves veterans of recent peacekeeping operations.