Stories behind soldiers' crosses intrigue

Rotorua Museum's Susan Skellern (left) and Pamela Lovis with some of the crosses that made up the Rotorua District Field of Remembrance. Photo / Ben Fraser

Undertaking research for the Rotorua District Field of Remembrance has been an intriguing exercise for Rotorua Museum deputy director Pamela Lovis.

The Rotorua field, in the Government Gardens by the cenotaph, was consecrated on Thursday and will be in place until tomorrow.

It commemorates men of the Rotorua district who served and died in World War I and was laid for the first time ahead of Anzac Day commemorations and will be reinstalled each Anzac Day until 2018.

During the course of researching who should be remembered in the field, Ms Lovis was surprised at the variety of stories and backgrounds of the 103 men for whom crosses have been installed.

"Knowing about people's motivations for fighting, and about their experiences of this terrible war, and the effects on those left behind, will help the world today better understand and avoid such conflicts in the future."

During the course of her research Ms Lovis came across a variety of interesting information and memorabilia. For example, a letter of condolence from King George V of Britain to the family of Private Manu Tuki (20616), who died of wounds at Messines, Belgium, in June 1917. The letter is on display in the museum's Nga Pumanawa o Te Arawa gallery.

The names included in the Rotorua field were endorsed by the RSA and the crosses include one Star of David for a Jewish soldier and a cross for "The Unknown Soldier, Known unto God" - representing the many soldiers who died during World War I but whose deaths were not recorded.

Each cross bears the serial number, rank, initials and surname of a soldier.

Local World War I historians Andrew Monk and Kevin Lyall provided additional information and names.

If you know someone you think should be included in the Field of Remembrance contact the Rotorua Lakes Council on (07) 348 4199 or the Rotorua RSA on (07) 348 1055.