We will remember them

wta090814bwofftowar.jpg wta110614lfperry.jpg Perry Street, Masterton, near railway station. A blended photo, from August 13, 1914 and today, nearly 100 years apart, showing the Wairarapa contingent ma

Wairarapa is set to commemorate its sons who fell in battle -- by turning the clock back 100 years to the day they left for war.

Masterton District Council has organised "Leading For The Front", an historic re-enactment of the first Wairarapa troops' departure from Masterton before heading for the battlefields, taking place next Wednesday, August 13.

During the re-enactment, a contingent of "soldiers", played by young men from various Wairarapa secondary schools, will march from the Masterton Town Square, down Perry St, to Masterton Railway Station, symbolising the beginning of the troops' journey to Awapuni Training Camp in Palmerston North.

They will then board a specially-commissioned vintage steam train and travel to Mauriceville Railway Station.

In 1914, after training at Awapuni, the troops were shipped overseas and to the frontline, and hundreds never returned.

Council spokesperson Sam Rossiter-Stead said he hoped the Wairarapa public would participate in the re-enactment by "cheering on" the soldiers -- and also reflecting on the seriousness of the real troops' task.

"Wairarapa had a much smaller population back then, so to lose 544 of our young men was devastating for our community," he said.

Dress the part for occasion

wta140714supyou THE CALL: Masterton District Council wants spectators -- in period costume if possible -- to farewell troops at its re-enactment of soldiers leaving by train for the front.A-wta270514lfmarch04AUTHENTIC: From left: Violet Patterson, 8, Mayor Lyn Patterson, Matt Sale, 17, and Taylor Houston, 17 earlier this year in some of period costumes which will appear in the re-enactment. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

"They headed off with cheering and music playing, and it was a great adventure to them -- but a whole lot of them didn't come back.

"It's important we remember the sacrifice they made."

The re-enactment will begin at midday at the square, where the "soldiers" will be farewelled by an actor playing Masterton mayor of the day, J M Coradine -- with the exact speech he used in 1914.

Mayor Lyn Patterson will play Mrs Coradine, and will make a speech about "helping the less fortunate".

The actors playing the troops have been drilled in the art of marching, and will be wearing authentic World War I uniforms the council "begged, and borrowed" from various sources.

On their march, the troops will be accompanied by the Masterton District Brass Band and Wairarapa Fern and Thistle Pipe Band, and the streets will be lined with vintage vehicles and people on horseback.

Spectators are invited to wear period costume, Mr Rossiter-Stead said. Prizes will be given to the best dressed adult and child.

In addition, a limited number of seats are available to the public on the steam train to Mauriceville, at $20 a ticket.

"We'd love for people to come along on the train, and be part of a piece of history," said Mr Rossiter-Stead.

The council received a grant from Trust House for the steam train, which was hired from the Feilding and District Steam Rail Society.

The "Leaving For The Front" World War I re-enactment will be at midday on Wednesday, August 13 at the Masterton Town Square.

Steam train tickets are available from the Masterton and Martinborough iSITEs, Almo's Books, Greytown Sport & Leisure and Featherston Library.

The steam train will depart Masterton Railway Station at 1.30pm, and participants will be taken back to Masterton via bus at 2.30pm.