Anzac Day 2018: 100 years on from WWI's final months

Rotorua's Anzac Day dawn service and parade at Muruika war cemetery at Ohinemutu in 2017. Photo / File

In April 1918 it appeared World War I was in Germany's favour.

Russia was out of the fighting after signing the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, allowing Germany to send reinforcements from the Eastern Front to the Western Front.

In March, German forces had broken through and crossed the Somme River.

It was the first step in their Spring Offensive - an effort to end WWI before the United States stepped up its involvement.

The New Zealand Division was among the Allied soldiers who were rushed south from Hazebrouck to Colincamps to form a new defensive line.

They helped to stop the German attack on the British rail hub at Amiens.

As the offensive continued, the over-optimistic German units were spread more and more thinly.

They were pushed back during the Allied attacks that began in July, eventually ending the war before the end of the year.

For Anzac Day 2018, 100 years on from WWI's final months, Rotorua is one of the hundreds of centres across New Zealand hosting services to commemorate the sacrifices of our servicemen and women.

The events include this morning's dawn service, and the parade and civic service organised by the RSA, the Rotorua Lakes Council and the Te Arawa Returned Service's League, as well as the Te Whakarewarewa Military Remembrance Trust's commemorations concurrent to the civic service.

Today is also an opportunity for groups such as the Rotorua RSA to reach out to new members.

The RSA is hosting a function for veterans and family at the Rotorua Bowling Club after the civic service.

The Rotorua branch dropped from about 1200 members in 2014 to just a few hundred after it sold its building in 2015.

President Bryce Morrison said he was planning "a recruitment drive for the younger generation to join, including younger servicemen and women who have come back, as well as the children and grandkids of veterans".