Remembering the fallen

12th November 2004

Old soldiers and town leaders took time out in Featherston yesterday to remember the men and women of World War I who lost their lives in the cause of freedom.

Featherston has a special link with the fallen of what became known as the Great War, being a sister city to Messines in Belgium. Many thousands of Allied soldiers, including New Zealanders, were killed during the Battle of Messines in June, 1917.

South Wairarapa Mayor Adrienne Staples told the Armistice gathering at the Featherston cenotaph many of the fallen New Zealand soldiers would have started their military training at the Featherston Military Camp.

She said although 86 years have passed since the end of the conflict the events of World War I are no less significant.

Mrs Staples sent a message to her counterpart in Messines saying that today the two countries live in peace "although world events remind us that there are still those who will use war to attain power".

Messines Mayor Sandy Evrard wrote to Mrs Staples congratulating her on her election to the mayoralty and sending greetings to the people of South Wairarapa.

She said those who gave their lives on Belgium soil will never be forgotten.

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